Life Coach

Life C ach Shavuos Made Simple

By Rivki D. Rosenwald Esq., MFT, CLC

There are mountains that exist where we can enjoy an exhilarating ski experience, like Aspen or the Alps.

There are mountains that gain importance because of the faces that are indelibly preserved there, like Mount Rushmore.

There are certainly major peaks which people aspire to reach, such as Kilimanjaro or Mt Fuji.

So the question is: why pick a measly little mountain? One that is out in the middle of a dry, hot desert. A mountain that is hard to find even with Waze. Hard to identify even when looking right at it. And no fun to visit, due to its remote location anyway.

Because it simply is not about the mountain! It’s about the message...

All-knowing G-d gave us his “how to book for life” in that location; there’s got to be a good reason why.

So why a low mountain?

Well, it’s accessible to anyone. There’s no need to acquire special mountain climbing gear. Young and old, adept and klutzy – we can all get up it.

Why in the desert?

So no one will claim it’s not open to everyone. The Torah is available for everyone.

And why don’t we know which mountain it is? Because it’s not about the mountain; it’s about the gift.

Midbar Sinai, which means the

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Desert of Sinai, adds up in numeric Hebrew value to the word “shalom.” It’s a place of peace. The Torah should bring us inner and outer peace.

G-d doesn’t want us going out there looking for the mini mountain. G-d wants us to bring its experience home with us.

May your climb be ever upward to your own individual peak.

At Sinai, Hashem came to us. His voice was blaring, and the Jews told Moshe that it was just too awesome to bear. And so, Moshe took over for the rest of the luchos, and Hashem approved.

Hashem was not trying to put fear into us – He wanted to plant a sense of “fair” into our lives.

Fair and balance and pleasantness.

The idea of a mountain means there is climbing to do. The smallness means it’s achievable.

Welcome, to the holiday of Shavuos!

We celebrate the present that we received: the Torah. The architectural plan for this world. The embodiment of the nuances of what holds the world and us up. Where our charges come from. Where our shocks come from. Where our power comes from. And where our light comes from.

When we respect and connect with the Torah, we are connecting to

the way that this world is held together and how it operates best – and how we can operate best in this world.

Even when we fall down, in our efforts, the landing we make is on forgiving sand. So, just dust yourself off, and try again. It’s never that far a climb!

Mount your celebration this week. Plan your ascent.

And may your climb be ever upward to your own individual peak.

Rivki Rosenwald is a certified relation-

ship counselor, and career and life coach. She can be contacted at 917-705-2004 or rivki@rosenwalds.com.