Wedding Anniversary
Shavuot marks the day we received the Torah, 3,336 years ago.
It’s pretty amazing, a phenomenon actually, that something that old is still this relevant.
And it might have something to do with the way we relate to it- every single day when we say the blessing, “Blessed are you G-d…who gives us the Torah”. Note that even though G-d gave it 3,336 years ago, we still use the present tense- gives!
Because even though it is the oldest, it is still the most widely read book in the world.
Its message is as timeless, timely, and relevant as it ever was.
Many ideologies, and religions have come and gone.
Much science, research and psychology breakthroughs have had their day in the spotlight.
They have had their day — only to become obsolete as more current and relevant ideas took their place.
These ideas remain in the history books, the object of case studies showing how they were debunked or abandoned, but the Torah continues to provide guidance, hope and comfort as it always did, like a newly published self-help manual hot off the press.
In a world were everyone seeks to balance work and personal life — the Torah gives us the Shabbos, teaching us healthy boundaries in time and how to reconnect with what matters, to recharge for the coming week.
In today’s world of immediate gratification, the Torah’s laws of family purity teaches us how to foster and sustain real intimacy.
In the share-all age of social media, when lives can be upended and so much damage done with the click of a button — the Torah gives us the laws of slander as well as the mitzvah to love for our fellow Jew. it outlines how to treat each other with privacy, dignity, and respect.
In today’s world we all want a good investment with a good payout — the Torah gives us the law of charity-investing in communal needs- the ultimate payout and the ultimate key to financial success.
Years before the Torah was given, our forefather Abraham began spreading these messages and morals. Not because he was the first to believe in G-d, but because he was the first to recognize the transformative power in living a life aligned with our soul and G-d’s truths.
He traveled the desert to share the Jewish morals and values because he knew their life enhancing powers.
As we celebrate Shavuot next week, I hope you will lean in (even more!) to the mitzvahs, morals and meaning that the Torah affords us every single day.
Join us on Wednesday, June 12 at 5:30 PM to commemorate our wedding anniversary with G-d. Bring the whole family.
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom.
