Shavuot

Shavuot is the holiday of the giving of the Torah. But what is the Torah? What, in fact, were we given at Mt. Sinai?

The Torah is not a chronicle of the events of the past, on the contrary, it describes the moment when our future is being decided. The Torah is the instruction on how to become mutual guarantors for each other. By accepting it, we lived together on our land. By rejecting it, we were dispersed among the nations.

Shavuot, like all Jewish holidays, carries a call to action. It is full of light and whiteness, but it is not easy. In fact, we are slowly but surely being pressed against the mountain. The mountain of our own hatred.

And if we suddenly realize how our egoism is tearing us to pieces, if trying to unite into something complete, we face an insurmountable internal schism, that’s when we need help, we need the Torah.

“And Israel camped against the mountain.” Not some refugees from ancient Egypt who camped in the desert. Everyone, no matter where they live, what people they belong to, whatever faith they confess, stand at the foot. There is one nationality: a man. And the heart is one for all.
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