LEAD TIDBIT Actually, although the Bard claims that a rose would smell as sweet regardless of its moniker, in the case of Shavuot, each different name we have for the Chag gives it a distinctly different fragrance, all of which combine exquisitely to make an important statement. Shavuot, Festival of Weeks, focuses our attention on the role of the Chag as the culmination of a process whose beginning we mark and celebrate with Pesach. The Mishna's name for Shavuot - Atzeret - also points to its role as the cap and crown to Pesach. (In the Torah, the term Atzeret is shared by the 7th day of Pesach and Shmini Atzeret.) In what way is Shavuot the culmination of Pesach? Let some of its other names teach us. Z'man Matan Torateinu, the time of the giving of the Torah. Back at the Burning Bush, where and when G-d first appeared to Moshe Rabeinu, He told Moshe that the Sign that G-d indeed sent Moshe into Egypt would be their return to Horev (Sinai) on their way out of Egypt (to receive the Torah). In Va'eira, G-d promises that He will take us out of Egypt and will make us His people and He will be our G-d. That means Matan Torah. That means that Shavuot is the culmination of Pesach. But there are other names. Chag HaKatzir (festival of the cutting of the grain) and Yom HaBikurim also show us how Shavuot is the culmination of Pesach. At the same Bush, G-d said to Moshe that He is going down into Egypt in order to bring the people up to a good land, a land flowing with milk and honey - Eretz Yisrael. Agricultural mitzvot mean Eretz Yisrael. Bikurim are brought only to the Beit HaMikdash - guess where? May we merit the full value of Shavuot soon, in our time. [The Shavuot Homepage]
|
