The Rabbi’s Reflections

As the Yom Tov of Pesach begins, we are immediately commanded to begin counting towards Shavous. The question is obvious. Why not let Pesach be Pesach and Shavous be Shavous? What message is there for us in this counting?

My Saba, Rabbi Shimon Murciano Shlita, explains this concept in the following manner. Personal freedom is only of value if it provides us with an opportunity for spiritual development. As Jews, never did we see freedom as abandonment of authority, but rather as freedom to develop and direct ourselves towards goals for which we were really intended. Attaining physical freedom from Egypt gave us the opportunity to work on our spiritual character. It’s not only about counting the days, but it’s about making the days count. So, in fact, this counting is a unique directive with far greater significance than we normally associate with counting time periods. On one hand, the counting enables us to link Pesach and Shavous together. Pesach celebrates our beginning as a physical nation while Shavous commemorates our becoming the “Am Hashem” through accepting the Torah. This counting period also enables us to relive the anticipation and preparation for receiving the Torah, as counting symbolizes a yearning and longing towards a goal.

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