This is a Shavuot message written by my friend, Mara:
חג שבועות שמח
All the news is dire; it always is. At pesach, we say….
“eh-la sheb’chol dor v’dor aleinu l’cha-to-teinu…”
in every generation, they rise up to destroy us….
Most American Jews take this as a quaint metaphor, part of the Haggada ritual…
NOT ANYMORE.
Tonight at sundown begins the observance of Shavuot, seven weeks following the Exodus, B’nei Yisrael gathers at the foot of Mt. Sinai to await — what…?
Our Tradition teaches us that we were all there — all generations, before and after — and we fell asleep!
At this awesome time, we almost blew it — which is why it has become customary to stay up all night learning Torah….no falling asleep now, chevra!
THIS IS THE TIME TO BE VIGILANT.
Our Tradition also teaches us that Torah has been, is and will be eternal. It existed before the universe…It existed before time….It existed before human beings…It existed within HASHEM.
That is what we awaited at Mt. Sinai. We awaited — the Present, which is the Presence. That is the meaning of “MATAN TORAH.”
And He gave it to us — to you and to me, to our ancestors and to our descendants — as a roadmap for Life.
It is, indeed, “MATAN” — The Gift of All Gifts.
And it is up to each and every one of us to accept this precious present and vow…
NOT IN THIS GENERATION WILL THEY DESTROY US!
May we merit HASHEM’s intervention in these days…in these times….
Chag Shavuot Sameach!
Mara
BEAR TO THE RIGHT 