{"id":57764,"date":"2025-05-13T18:31:35","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T18:31:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/?p=57764"},"modified":"2025-05-30T13:16:40","modified_gmt":"2025-05-30T13:16:40","slug":"zman-matan-torateinu-insights-cb-neugroschl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/zman-matan-torateinu-insights-cb-neugroschl\/","title":{"rendered":"Z\u2019man Matan Torateinu: Insights from CB Neugroschl"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

OU Women\u2019s Initiative Torah Educator<\/em><\/p>\n

\"CB<\/a>
CB Neugroschl<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Midway through Sefirat Haomer<\/a> (the counting of the weeks between Pesach and Shavuot), we chatted with OU Women\u2019s Initiative<\/a> Torah Educator CB Neugroschl ahead of Shavuot<\/a> about the distinctions between Chag Matan Torateinu and Simchat Torah; the Torah\u2019s existence before Har Sinai; and Shavuot\u2019s connections to dairy foods, and Megillat Rut.<\/p>\n

Shavuot is Chag Matan Torah (the holiday of receiving the Torah) yet we celebrate the Torah and complete it on Simchat Torah. Why is that?<\/h3>\n

Mrs. Neugroschl:<\/strong> I love the fact that Shavuot celebrates Kabbalat HaTorah<\/em> (the receiving of the Torah) and is separate from the celebration of the joyfulness of Torah or the cycle of reading the Torah which is reserved for Simchat Torah<\/a>. To me, Shavuot is the wedding day of our relationship with Hashem, and Har Sinai\/Kabbalat HaTorah is the moment we seal an eternal covenant of commitment. Since Hashem chose Am Yisrael (the nation of Israel) by giving us His Torah, Shavuot is the celebration of our divine potential and the mutual promise inherent within it.<\/p>\n

The Torah is the key to understanding Hashem\u2019s plan for this world. As the Midrash Rabbah<\/a> (interpretations on each of the Torah\u2019s Five Books and the five megillot) and Zohar (the primary text of Jewish mysticism) write, “Histakel b\u2019oraita uvara alma<\/em> \u2014 He looked into the Torah and created the world.\u201d At Har Sinai, when we were selected as Am Hanivchar<\/em> (the chosen nation) and given the Torah, we were \u2014 and continue to be \u2014 charged to bring that majestic plan into our lives, and via our lives, into the world. This is a time of being seen, elevated, and loved by Hashem for our potential. I view Simchat Torah as a reminder of that Matan Torah love; after a period of teshuva<\/em> (repentance) during the Yamim Noraim<\/a>, as we embark on the New Year, we cling to Hashem for one more day (Simchat Torah), in celebration of the promise Hashem gave us!<\/p>\n

Chazal maintain that the Torah existed before Matan Torah in the days of Adam and Chava, Noach, and the Avot (our Forefathers). Could you elaborate on the sources and idea behind this belief?<\/h3>\n

Mrs. Neugroschl:<\/strong> The phrase “Histakel b’oraita uvara alma<\/em>, He looked into the Torah and created the world,” conveys the idea that Hashem crafted the world according to the blueprint established in the Torah. While it\u2019s important to recognize that the Torah is not a history book and that the events and experiences it describes occurred after the creation of the world, this phrase suggests that the teachings within the Torah reflect the core principles of Divine Truths that Hashem wants us to embrace. Learning the Torah is akin to discovering the code of humanity, guiding us to elevate the world and unlock the potential inherent in the gift of life. For more insights, explore Torah and Creation<\/a> shiurim on OU Torah.<\/p>\n

Why is there a minhag to eat dairy on Shavuot?<\/h3>\n

Mrs. Neugroschl:<\/strong> The historical roots of eating dairy on Shavuot are multifaceted, with explanations ranging from symbolic connections to the Torah and the Land of Israel, to practical considerations at the time of the giving of the Torah. One primary explanation ties the custom to the Israelites receiving the Torah and becoming aware of the kosher laws, making it difficult to immediately consume meat that had not been properly butchered or to use their dishes.[1]<\/sup> Another connection points to the Torah\u2019s description of the Land of Israel as a “land of milk and honey,” associating dairy with the holiday’s celebration of the Torah whose primary fulfillment is in Eretz Yisrael.<\/p>\n

Additionally, some interpretations suggest that having dairy and meat meals on Shavuot (separately of course) represents the Sh\u2019tey Halechem<\/em>, the two special breads that were offered in the Beit Hamikdash on Shavuot.[2]<\/sup> A further idea is that Torah is likened to milk in its sweetness and purity.[3]<\/sup><\/p>\n

For me, the food we eat on Yom Tov is such a meaningful way to represent our simchat yom tov<\/em> and to build our family\u2019s connection to the values of the day. Seen this way, having a dairy menu can represent our commitment to living a Halakhic life and embracing the minute details of that lifestyle, or it can embody our aspirations to be part of reishit tzemichat geulateinu<\/em> (the beginnings of the flowering of redemption) in Eretz Yisrael (the Land of Israel). Either way, our planning and prep for the chag ought to be part of preparing spiritually for the commitments that Shavuot celebrates. Learn more about Shavuot customs<\/a> at OU.org.<\/p>\n

Besides the fact that the story of Ruth takes place during the harvest season, what other connections does Megillat Rut have to Shavuot?<\/h3>\n

Mrs. Neugroschl:<\/strong> Megillat Rut<\/a> is a remarkable meditation on what it means, and doesn\u2019t mean, to be on a journey of Kabbalat HaTorah<\/em> to building a society that honors that journey and reflects its beauty. It is both a meditation of the personal and private commitments and decisions that one makes when choosing to live a life of Torah and faith, as well as a communal critique of the masses and the \u201cleaders\u201d who may fail that test. Kabbalat HaTorah<\/em> requires sacrifices, may demand radical independence and a refashioning of oneself \u2014 like Rut and Naomi \u2014 and it involves a deep commitment to chesed<\/em> (acts of kindness) and empathy as exemplified by Boaz. Learning Megillat Rut on Shavuot, or, ideally, beforehand, challenges me to consider what I am sacrificing for my Torah and faith and how I might be more empathetic and inclusive of others who are on this journey of faith.<\/p>\n

With over twenty-five years of pedagogic, curricular, and administrative experience in both Judaic and General Studies, Mrs. CB Neugroschl serves as Head of School at Ma\u2019ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls<\/a>, in Teaneck, New Jersey. Previously, she served as Ma\u2019ayanot\u2019s Director of Admissions, and taught and developed the school\u2019s Jewish History and Jewish Philosophy programs.<\/p>\n

An esteemed OU Women\u2019s Initiative Torah Educator<\/a>, Mrs. Neugroschl studied at Michlala College for Women and earned her B.A. at Stern College for Women<\/a> in 1993. She continued her studies at Yeshiva University\u2019s Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies<\/a>, with a focus on History of Halakha and Medieval Ashkenaz. She received her M.A. in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations from Harvard University<\/a> in 1998 where she studied the nexus of law and spirituality in the work of Maimonides. She lives in Teaneck, New Jersey, with her husband Jeff. Their five children live in Teaneck, New York, and Israel.<\/p>\n

[1]<\/sup><\/a> Mishna Berura 494:12<\/a><\/p>\n

[2]<\/sup><\/a> Rema, Orach Chayim 494:2<\/p>\n

[3]<\/sup><\/a> Shir Hashirim 4:11<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

OU Women\u2019s Initiative Torah Educator Midway through Sefirat Haomer (the counting of the weeks between Pesach and Shavuot), we chatted with OU Women\u2019s Initiative Torah Educator CB Neugroschl ahead of Shavuot about the distinctions between Chag Matan Torateinu and Simchat Torah; the Torah\u2019s existence before Har Sinai; and Shavuot\u2019s connections to dairy foods, and Megillat […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":134176,"featured_media":57929,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[357,343],"tags":[391,392],"class_list":["post-57764","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-shavuot","category-simchat-torah","tag-shavuot","tag-sukkot"],"yoast_head":"\nZ\u2019man Matan Torateinu: Insights from CB Neugroschl - Jewish Holidays<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"OU Women\u2019s Initiative Torah Educator CB Neugroschl talks about the distinctions between Chag Matan Torateinu and Simchat Torah, the Torah\u2019s existence before Har Sinai, and Shavuot\u2019s connections to dairy foods and Megillat Rut\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ou.org\/holidays\/zman-matan-torateinu-insights-cb-neugroschl\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Z\u2019man Matan Torateinu: Insights from CB Neugroschl - 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