A brief guide to the Ultimate Guide: The Ten Commandments INCLUDES Torah Readings FOR THE First Day Shavuotof
Yehuda Lang is a contemporary artist who fuses bright colors and chasidic ideas to create one-of-kind images. You can view his full collection online at YehudaLang.com
Imagineyou get a call from a big-name attorney informing you that you are the beneficiary of a literary trove that has shaped humanity and a large estate in the Middle East. You would be a big deal, and you are. So consider this magazine that phone call. And the keyword here is inheritance.
The exact word used by the Torah to describe your Jewishness and relationship to the Torah is “Inheritance.” And I quote Deuteronomy 33:4, “The Torah that Moses commanded us is the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.”
This verse is excellent news because inheritance implies that Judaism is your birthright, regardless of how “religious” you are. It’s not a salary or payment for what you do. The Torah is yours because of who you are.
And that’s worth celebrating.
Produced by Chabad Magazine
Chabad of Los Alamitos
Edited by Rabbi Shmuel Marcus
Art Direction Zalman Friedman Design Carasmatic DesignThe holiday of Shavuot celebrates the day we all stood at Sinai and received the Torah. We explore this deep relationship we all have with the Torah in the following pages. The commentary is based on the works of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, of blessed memory.
The Rebbe wrote and spoke extensively on the importance of men, women, and children of all ages hearing the Ten Commandments on Shavuot. In addition, the Rebbe saw great importance in letting you know that the Torah is yours because of who you are.
(Locally, we will be reading the Ten Commandments June? and? at Chabad of ?. Please join us at 11am for our Shavout party.)
Wishing you a joyous and meaningful Shavuot, Rabbi and Mrs. Shluchim
Based on the teachings of the LUBAVITCHER REBBE
Today, the wisdom of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson (1902-1994), fills over 300 volumes, and his words continue to awake and empower the Divine soul within us all.
Shavuot is the festival that marks the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, which happened seven weeks after the Exodus. Shavuot literally means weeks.
Shavuot also marks our receiving of the Torah. In other words, we were not passive recipients. On the contrary, we actively prepared and counted the days. We famously shouted, "We will do and listen," impressing G-d by committing to action even before hearing the details. So, Shavuot likewise celebrates our dedication to the Torah. Shavuot also means "oaths," as we again promise to do and listen.
On Shavuot, we gather young and old to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments.
Getting the Torah is unlike getting a new bicycle or downloading a file. When G-d gave us the Torah, we were gifted the ability to interact with and touch the divine. The Torah's power to connect Heaven and Earth is a continuous process fresh every day. That's why the giving of the Torah will never happen again because it's still happening now.
The Tablets were engraved in stone to tell you that your relationship with the Torah is unlike paper and ink, or even words written upon your heart. Instead, it's engraved; it's part of you and who you are.
The Hebrew word for engraved and the Hebrew word for freedom are very similar. That's because the laws of the Torah don't limit us; on the contrary, they free us. The Torah gave us true freedom as the chains that kept us earthbound were finally opened.
When choosing the perfect location to serve as the backdrop to the extraordinary giving of the Torah, G-d chose the Sinai desert. The sages see this as G-d's way of letting you know that you don't need to be a sophisticated city person with all the amenities of a metropolis to observe the Torah. The message is that the Torah is for you no matter where you live.
Mount Sinai, the platform for giving the Torah, was chosen from the other more impressive mountains for its humility. This mountain reminds us to stay humble and stand firm like a mountain. True humility is not weakness but a firm mountainlike faith that allows you to be the platform and vessel for G-d's gifts.
DECORATE: Some have the custom to decorate their homes (and synagogues) with flowers and sweetsmelling plants in advance of Shavuot. The Midrash tells us that the small mountain sprouted beautiful flowers to provide the perfect setting for the giving of the Torah. The branches also remind us that Shavuot is the time when judgment is rendered regarding the fruits of the field.
ERUV TAVSHILIN:
Before the start of Shavuot, Eruv Tavshilin should be done. See Kehot Siddur page 327 for details.
LIGHT: Women and girls light holiday candles to usher in the holiday on both the first and second evenings of the holidays and recite these blessings:
Ba-rooch Ah-tah Ah-doh-nai Eh-lo-heinu Meh-lech ha-oh-lam ah-sher keedeh-sha-nu beh-mitz-voh-tav veh-tzeeva-nu leh-had-lik neir shel yom tov.
Ba-rooch Ah-tah Ah-doh-nai Eh-lo-heinu Meh-lech ha-oh-lam sheh-heh-chehyah-nu veh-kee-yeh-mah-nu ve-heegee-ah-nu liz-man ha-zeh.
REST: As on other holidays, special meals are eaten, and no “work” may be performed.
PRAY: The evening service includes the Amidah for festivals. Recite the sections for Shavuot (include parts for Saturday night). The Amidah for festivals is found in Chabad’s Kehot Siddur on page 331.
KIDDUSH: We hold a cup of wine in our right palm and we recite the Kiddush for Shavuot found on page 329 in Chabad’s Kehot Siddur.
EAT: Enjoy your festive meal.
THE ALL NIGHTER: It is customary to stay up all night learning Torah on the first night of Shavuot.
PRAY: The Shavuot service includes the Amidah for festivals. Recite the sections for Shavuot. The Amidah for festivals is found in Chabad’s Kehot Siddur on page 331.
The Musaf prayer for Shavuot is found in Chabad’s Kehot siddur on page 340. Insert sections for Shavuot.
READ: The 10 Commandments. During the morning service all men, women and children should hear the reading of the 10 Commandments. The Torah reading for the first day of Shavuot is found in Chabad’s Kehot Siddur on page 520-522.
KIDDUSH: The Shavuot lunch begins with a cup of wine as we recite the Kiddush found in Chabad’s Kehot Siddur on page 357.
EAT: It is customary to eat dairy foods on Shavuot. Menus range from traditional cheese blintzes to quiches, casseroles and more. If you are allergic or lactose-free, kindly leave this custom for others to enjoy on your behalf.
LIGHT: Many have the custom to light a yahrzeit candle in honor of a loved one. The memorial prayer of Yizkor will be said on the 2nd day of Shavuot. Be sure to light the Yahrzeit candle from a pre-existing flame.
LIGHT: After sunset women and girls light candles and recite these blessings:
Ba-rooch Ah-tah Ah-doh-nai Eh-lo-heinu Meh-lech ha-oh-lam ah-sher keedeh-sha-nu beh-mitz-voh-tav veh-tzee-
va-nu leh-had-lik neir shel Shabbat kodesh v’shel yom tov.
Ba-rooch Ah-tah Ah-doh-nai Eh-lo-heinu Meh-lech ha-oh-lam sheh-heh-chehyah-nu veh-kee-yeh-mah-nu ve-heegee-ah-nu liz-man ha-zeh.
PRAY: The evening service includes the Amidah for festivals. Recite the sections for Shavuot. The Amidah for festivals is found in Chabad’s Kehot Siddur on page 331.
KIDDUSH: We hold a cup of wine in our right palm and we recite the Kiddush for Shavuot found on page 329 in Chabad’s Kehot Siddur.
EAT: Enjoy your festive meal.
PRAY: The Shavuot service includes the Amidah for festivals. Recite the sections for Shavuot. The Amidah for festivals is found in Chabad’s Kehot Siddur on page 331.
The Musaf prayer for Shavuot is found in Chabad’s Kehot Siddur on page 340. Insert sections for Shavuot.
YIZKOR: On the second day of Shavuot, the Yizkor memorial service is recited. Yizkor is found in Chabad’s Kehot Siddur on page 337.
READ: Some communities read the Book of Ruth publicly, as King David— whose passing occurred on this day—was a descendant of Ruth the Moabite.
KIDDUSH: Recite the Kiddush for Shavuot on page 357 in Chabad’s Kehot Siddur.
EAT: Enjoy your festive meal.
HAVDALAH: At nightfall recite the Havdalah over a cup of wine, with spices and a Havdalah candle. The blessings are found in page 297 in Chabad's Kehot Siddur.
After refining our character by counting the Omer, Shavuot signifies the successful transformation from matzah, or the negative chametz ego we avoid on Passover, to the challah loaves of bread in the Temple's Shavuot offering. Shavuot sees the traditional Challah bread as a celebration of our new elevated divine ego. So, we asked Rochi Pinson, the Challah Aficionado and author of the bestselling Rising: The Book of Challah, for a failproof step-by-step Challah recipe. Enjoy!
Yield: 8 medium challahs (large recipe) / 2 medium challahs, or 16-22 cheese flowers (quarter recipe)
This classic recipe will help you on your way to challah stardom!
Full Recipe
4¾ cups warm water
1½ cups sugar
7 tsp yeast
1 cup oil
2 eggs, beaten
2 tsp vanilla extract
2½ Tbsp fine sea salt
13-15 cups all-purpose flour (approximately a 5 lb bag)
Quarter Recipe
1 Cup warm water
¼ cup sugar
2.5 tsp yeast
2 Tbsp oil
1 egg, beaten
½ tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp salt
3 - 3 ¼ Cups all purpose flour
1. Pour the warm water into a bowl. Add the sugar and yeast; stir to combine.
2. Add the oil, eggs, and vanilla; stir well.
3. Add the salt and most of the flour, adding the remaining flour as needed until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
4. Knead until smooth and elastic. Put a bit of oil in the challah bowl and roll the dough around in it. Cover the bowl and let rise in a warm spot for 2-3 hours, or overnight in the fridge.
5. When the dough is puffy, punch it down to let out the air. Then do the challah separation with the blessing. (no separation or blessing required for the quarter recipe)
6. Braid, then glaze with egg, and top with your favorite toppings.
7. Allow to rise for another 1-1½ hours, then bake in a 350°F oven for 30 minutes.
Your Soul
Your Body
“What is an Alef? A point above, a point below, connected by a line, that’s an Alef. Education starts with knowing that God above and we below are indeed one through the Torah. Look at the Alef, and see the Torah as the bridge that unites body and soul.”
— Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, founder of Chabad (1745-1812)
“Israel, the Torah, and G-d are indeed one.”
We've all seen the images and memes of a Moses-like character with a flowing white beard coming down a mountain holding two tablets. Of course, he received two tablets, but it doesn't take forty days just for that, and the Torah tells us that Moses got a few other things that somehow didn't make it into any cartoon sketches. Luckily, the great Moses Maimonides clarified this for us:
Moses was given the entire Torah at Mount Sinai, including their explanations. That's why the verse adds the two other terms after the words "tablets of stone,"
1) Torah and 2) Mitzvah.
mitzvah" refers to its oral explanation. So God tells Moses to keep "the Torah" according to the verbal instructions of "the mitzvah."
and placed another scroll in the ark as a testimonial, as [Deuteronomy 31:26] states: "Take this Torah scroll and place it [beside the ark…] and it will be there as a testimonial."
elders, Joshua, and all of Israel, as [Deuteronomy 13:1] states: "Be careful to observe everything that I prescribe to you." These verbal explanations were not written, and for this reason, it is called the Oral Law.
Joshua did the same thing. He wrote scrolls of the written Torah and told the elders the verbal explanations. So, the elders who heard it from Joshua did the same thing. You get the idea. Remarkably, the Oral Law or the spoken interpretation of the Torah remained unchanged for 1813 years before it was eventually documented in the form of the Talmud. The chain of transmission from Moses to Joshua, all the way to Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, who authored the Mishna in 189CE, and later to Rav Ashi, who edited the Talmud in 500CE, was listed by Maimonides.This chain of teachers and students is unbroken to this very day.
"The Torah" refers to the Written Law, and "the
"The mitzvah" means the Oral Law. So, here's what happened. After Moses got the stone tablets, he wrote the entire Torah before he died. Then, he gave a Torah scroll to each tribe
What about all the explanations of the Torah? Well, those were not transcribed. Instead, Moses told it to people like the
"And I wiLL givE you ThE TABLETs of sTonE, ThE ToRAh, And ThE miTzvAh."
--exodus 24:12
"I love the torah; I can't stop talking about it."
--KiNG DAViD, PSALMS 119:97
The Torah is not simply a book of laws or a collection of stories. Instead, it is a blueprint for life that provides a comprehensive understanding of who we are, why we are here, and how we can live our lives in the most meaningful and purposeful way possible. Through studying and applying Torah wisdom, we can unlock our full potential as human beings and positively impact the world around us.
In our mercurial world, where "truth" is changing minute by minute, it's important to spend a moment each day absorbing something timeless, something eternal.
--peter himmelman, grammy and emmy-nominated singer-songwriter and versatile artist.
The Torah (literally means "instruction"), provides us with guidance and you could say it's G-d's "user's manual" for the world, and yes, the Torah has many commandments, but when you look deeper, it's primarily a holy, multi-layered book that can change your world. Think of it as looking beyond the black and white chocolate figurines on a wedding cake to discover the profound power and beauty of marriage, love, and commitment. So, if it's not all about what I can and can't do, what exactly is the Torah? What are those many layers and dimensions that make the Torah our national treasure and cause us to want to celebrate Shavuot? The following is a brief guide to understanding what the Torah truly is.
The first thing you should know is the Torah is rightfully yours, as it states in Deuteronomy 33:4, "The Torah is the inheritance of every Jew."
Unlike a purchase or a gift, inheritance implies that it belongs to you because of who you are, not because of an external force. In fact, according to the Zohar, your connection to the Torah is intrinsic to your being, as it proclaims that God, your soul, and the Torah are indeed one. Therefore, as you delve into the power and significance of the Torah, it is essential to remember that it is your story and that you share a deep connection with the Torah. Therefore, this Shavuot, as we celebrate the giving of the Torah, go ahead and claim what is rightfully yours.
You can pick up many books at the library, but only one book, the Torah, picks you up and elevates your life.
For generations, people struggled to bridge the gap between creation and the Creator, as the distance seemed insurmountable. Finally, on Shavuot, through the Torah, God bridged the gap between Heaven and Earth.
The Torah is more like a bridge than a mere source of information; it connects Heaven and Earth and your body and soul. In this way, Shavuot is the holiday that makes all other Jewish celebrations possible. It commemorates the arrival of the Torah and the breaking down of the natural barriers between the earthly and the divine, enabling us to transform our world into a more sacred and heavenly place.
Can you imagine explaining the Torah to people who don't get it? You might feel like a fish out of water, and here's why. Years ago, when the Roman government ruled the Jews and forbade Torah study, the great Rabbi Akiva defied this decree and explained with a parable about a fox who tried to persuade fish to avoid the fisherman's nets and leave the water and live on land with him. The fish refused, saying they could perhaps survive in the water but would surely die on dry land.
Similarly, Rabbi Akiva argued that studying Torah, our life and longevity, was necessary even in a time of danger and prohibition. Today, learning Torah is legal everywhere, meaning there's plenty of oxygen for your soul. So, breathe freely and deeply.
Worldly possessions and pleasures cannot quench the thirst of our otherworldly souls, so we subconsciously yearn for the authenticity of the Torah. The pages in a Torah book are like slices of Heaven you can hold in your hand. While God's wisdom is present throughout creation, the Torah is different in that it embodies God's wisdom and remains inseparable from it, continuing to exist as the "Creator" even after entering creation. This pure holiness makes the Torah impervious to impurity, as Jeremiah 23:29 says, "Behold, my words are fire." Even after the Torah descends to earth and is handed to you, it remains a pure flame of Heavenly divinity that can warm and invigorate your thirsty soul like nothing else.
If you plan on changing the world, you will need this tool: The Torah.
The Torah is like an outsider who can serve as a business consultant or therapist. The Torah's transcendent nature is the key to transforming the physical world into a heavenly dwelling place. Sure, the Torah contains superior wisdom, but its genuine power lies in its ability to sanctify the world around us.
For example, the Torah enables us to transform parchment and ink into a holy scroll or turn wool scraps into a holy tallit with tzitzit. That's why Shavuot is considered the day we were given the tools to make this world a holy place.
When the world around you has gone crazy, like Noah, you can enter the ark, or Torah, and find refuge.
Interestingly, the Baal Shem Tov points out that the Hebrew term for "ark" is the same as for "word," as in the word of God. Therefore, just as Noah found safety by entering the ark, we, too, can find shelter from everyday chaos by immersing ourselves in the words of the Torah.
By Rabbi Shmuel Marcus Rabbi Shmuel Marcus is the editor of Chabad Magazinethe torah is our inheritance
the torah is a must to change the world!
G-d gave the Torah to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai on Shavuot. G-d re-gives the Torah every year, and we renew our acceptance of G-d’s gift. It’s your inheritance, so claim it. The giving of the Torah and our ability to connect Heaven and earth is a continuous event that still impacts and elevates our daily interactions.
All Jews were gathered at Mount
and today we do the same by gathering men, women, and children of all ages to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments.
ר֣הה־ןמ ׳֙ה וי֤לא א֨רְקיו םי֑הֹל-א ָֽ ה
׃ל ֵֽ ארׂש י יֵ֥נבל די֖גתו ב֔קעַֽ י תי֣בל ֙רמאת
In the third month after leaving Egypt, the Jews arrived at Sinai on this day. Traveling from Rephidim, they came and set up camp at the foot of mount Sinai. Moses ascended to God, and the Lord told him, “So shall you say to the daughters and the sons of Israel, ‘You saw what I did to the Egyptians, and [how] I carried you on eagles’ wings, and I brought you to Me. And now, if you obey Me and keep My covenant, you shall be to Me a treasure out of all peoples, for Mine is the entire earth. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of princes and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
ם֗היֵנפל םׂש֣יו ם֑עה יֵ֣נְקזל א֖רְקיו ה֔ ׁש מ אֹ֣ביו
וה֖וצ ר֥ ׁש א הל֔אה םי֣רבדה־לכ ת֚א
ר֥בד־ר א ל֛כ ו֔רמאֹ֣יו ֙ודְחי ם֤עה־לכ ו֨נע ַֽ יו ׃׳ה
׃׳ה־לא ם֖עה י֥רבד־תא ה֛ ׁש מ בׁש֧ יו הׂ֑ש עַֽנ ׳֖ה
ב֣עב ֘ ךי֘לא א֣ב י֜כֹנ ָֽ א הֵ֨נה ה֗ ׁש מ־לא ׳֜ה רמאֹ֨יו ֖ ךב־םגו ך֔מע י֣רבדב ֙םעה ע֤מׁש י רו֞בע ַֽ ב ֒ןָנע ֶֽ ה
־לא ם֖עה י֥רבד־תא ה֛ מ ד֥גיו ם֑לֹועל וני֣מאַֽ י
ם֥ת דִקו ם֔עה־לא ך֣ל ֙ה מ־לא ׳֤ה רמאֹ֨יו ׃׳ה
םֹו֣יל םיִ֖נכְנ ו֥יהו ׃ם ָֽ תֹלמׂש ו֖סבכו רָ֑חמו םֹו֖יה
־לכ יֵ֥ניעל ׳֛ה ד֧רי י֗ ל ה םֹו֣יב | י֣כ יׁ֑שי ל ה
בי֣בס ֙םעה־תא ֤ תלבגהו ׃יָֽניס ר֥ה־לע ם֖עה
ע֣גְנו ר֖הב תֹו֥לע ם֛כל ו֥רמ ָֽ ה ר֔מאל
ִֽ כ ד֗י ֹו֜ב
ם֑עה־לא ר֖הה־ןמ ה֛ ׁש מ דר֧יו ־לא ֙רמאֹ֨יו ׃ם ָֽ תֹלמׂש ו֖סבכיו ם֔עה
וׁ֖שגת־לא םי֑מי תׁש֣ לׁש ל םיִ֖נכְנ ו֥יה ם֔עה ֩יהיו רֶקֹ֗בה תֹ֣יהב יׁ֜שי ל ה םֹו֨יב ֩יהיו ׃ה ָֽ א ר֖פֹׁש ל֥קו ר֔הה־לע ֙דבכ ןָ֤נעו םיִ֜קרבו
Moses came and called the elders and put the Lord’s words before them. And all the people replied in unison, “All that the Lord has spoken we shall do!” and Moses took the people’s words back to the Lord. And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in the thickness of the cloud, so that the people hear when I speak to you, and they will also believe in you forever.” And Moses relayed the words of the people to the Lord. And the Lord told Moses, “Go to the people and prepare them today and tomorrow, and they shall wash their garments. And they shall be ready for the third day, for, on the third day, the Lord will visibly descend upon Mount Sinai. And you shall set boundaries for the people, saying, Beware of ascending the mountain or touching its edge; whoever touches the mountain will die.’ No hand shall touch it, for he shall be stoned or cast down; whether man or beast, he shall not live. Only when the ram’s horn sounds a long blast may they ascend the mountain.”
׳֖ה וי֛לע ד֥רי ר֨ ׁש א יֵ֠נפ֠מ ֹו֔לכ
֙יהי ַֽ ו ׃דאמ ר֖הה־לכ ד֥רֱחֶֽ יו ן֔ בכה ןׁש֣ עכ -א ָֽ הו ר֔בדי ה֣ ׁש מ ד֑אמ ק֣ זָחו ך֖לֹוה ר֔פֹ ה ׃לֹוֽקב ונֶ֥נעַֽ י םי֖הֹל
So Moses descended from the mountain to the people, and he prepared the people, and they washed their garments. He said to the people, “Be ready for three days; do not approach a woman.” So it came to pass on the morning of the third day that thunderclaps and lightning flashes, a thick cloud upon the mountain, a mighty blast of a shofar, and the entire nation in the camp shuddered. Moses brought the people toward God, and they stood at the bottom of the mountain. And the whole of Mount Sinai smoked because the Lord had descended upon it in fire, and its smoke ascended like the smoke of the kiln, and the entire mountain quaked violently. The shofar’s sound grew increasingly stronger; Moses would speak, and God would answer him with a voice.
א֨רְקיו ר֑הה ׁשאֹ֣ר־לא יַ֖ניס ר֥ה־לע ׳֛ה דר ֧ יו
׃ה ֶֽ מ לע֥יו ר֖הה ׁשאֹ֥ר־לא ה֛ ׁש מל ׳֧ה
ו֤סרהֶֽ י־ןפ ם֑עב ד֣עה ד֖ר ה֔ מ־לא ׳֙ה רמאֹ֤יו
םיִ֛נהכה ם֧גו ׃ב ָֽ ר ונ֖ממ ל֥פָנו תֹו֔ארל ׳֙ה־לא
׃׳ה ם֖הב ץֹ֥רפי־ןפ וׁש֑דַקתי ׳֖ה־לא םי֥ ׁש גִנה
־לא תֹ֖לעַֽל ם֔עה ל֣כוי־אֹל ׳֔ה־לא ֙ה מ רמאֹ֤יו
ל֥בגה ר֔מאל ֙ ונ֨ב
The Lord descended upon Mount Sinai, to the peak of the mountain, and the Lord called Moses to the peak of the mountain, and Moses ascended. The Lord said to Moses, “Go down, warn the people not to go nearer to the Lord, to gaze, and many will fall. And also, the priests who go near to the Lord shall prepare themselves, lest the Lord send destruction upon them.” And Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot ascend to Mount Sinai, for You warned us saying, Set boundaries for the mountain and sanctify it.’” But the Lord said to him, “Go, descend, and return with Aaron, but the priests and the people shall not, lest He send destruction upon them.” So Moses went down and told the people.
Rise and face the Torah during the reading of the Ten Commandments:
֒םדבע ָֽ ת אֹ֣לו ֘םהל ה֣וֲח ַֽ ת ת־אֹל
־לע םיִ֛נב־לע תֹ֧בא ןֹ֨וע דֵ֠ק֠פ אָ֔נַק ל-֣א ֙ ךי֨הֹל-א
ַֽ ל ֙דסֶ֨ח הׂש֤עו י֑אְנֹׂש ל םי֖עבר־לעו םי֥ ל ׃י ָֽ תֹוצמ י֥רמֹׁש לו י֖בהאל
אֹ֤ל י֣כ או֑ ׁש ל ךי֖הֹל-א ׳֥ה־םׁש־ת א אׂ֛ש ת אֹ֥ל
ָֽ ל
א אׂ֥ש י־רׁש א ת֛א ׳֔ה
֘דֹבע ַֽ ת םי֣מי תׁש֣ ֹוׁ֗ש דַקל ת֜ב ה םֹו֨י־תא ֩רֹוכז
׳֣הַֽל | ת֣בׁש י֜ עיבׁש ה םֹו֨יו ֒ ך֒תכאלמ־לכ תיׂ֣ש עו
־֣ךְנבו ה֣תא ה֡כאלמ־לכ הׂ֣ש ע ַֽ ת אֹ֣ל ךי֗הֹל-א
ךי֔רע ב ר֣ ׁש א ֙ ךרֵֽגו ך֗תמהבו ֜ ךת ָֽ מא ַֽ ו ֨ ךדבע ך֠תב֠ו
ץר֗אה־תאו םי֣מ ה־תא ׳֜ה הׂ֨ש ע ֩םימי־תׁש ֵֽ י֣ כ
י֑עיבׁש ה םֹו֣יב חַנ֖יו ם֔ב־ר א־לכ־תאו ֙םיה־תא
׃וה ֵֽ ׁש דַקיו ת֖בׁש ה םֹו֥י־תא ׳֛ה ך֧רב ן֗כ־לע
ל֚ע ךי֔מי ןו֣כראַֽ י ֙ןע֨מל ך֑מא־תאו ךי֖בא־תא ד֥בכ ׃ךָֽל ן֥תֹנ ךי֖הֹל-א ׳֥ה־רׁש א ה֔מדא ָֽ ה
God spoke all these words saying:
your God, Who took you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
Do not have other gods. Therefore, don’t make graven images like anything in heaven, earth, or the water beneath the earth. Don’t bow before them or worship them, for I, the Lord, your God, am a jealous God, Who visits the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons, upon the third and the fourth generation of those who hate Me. I do kindness to thousands of generations, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain, for the Lord will not hold blameless anyone who takes His name in vain.
Remember Shabbat and sanctify it. Six days shall you work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord, your God; don’t do any labor, neither you, your son, your daughter, your servants, your beast, nor your stranger in your cities. In six days, the Lord made heaven, earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and He rested on the seventh day. Therefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and sanctified it.
Honor your father and your mother, so you will live long on the land that God is giving you.
Don’t murder.
Don’t commit adultery.
Don’t steal.
Don’t bear false witness against your fellow.
Don’t covet your fellow’s house; don’t covet your fellow’s wife, nor his servant, maidservant, ox, donkey, or whatever that is your fellows.
־תאו תֹ֜לֹוקה־תא םי֨אֹר ֩םעה ־לכו
ר֖הה־תאו ר֔פֹׁש ה לֹו֣ק ֙תאו ם֗דיפלה
֙ ורמאיו ׃קֹֽחר ֵֽ מ ו֖דמעַֽ יו ועֻ֔ניו ֙םעה אר֤יו ן֑ ׁש ע
־לאו הע֑מׁשִנ ו ונ֖מע ה֥תא־רבד ה֔ מ־לא
ה֣ ׁש מ רמאֹ֨יו ׃תומָנ־ןפ םי֖הֹל-א ונ֛מע ר֥בדי
תֹוּ֣סַנ ֙רובע ַֽ בל י֗כ ֒ וא֒רית־לא ֘םעה־לא
ֹו֛תארי ה֧יה ִֽ ת רו֗בע ַֽ בו םי֑הֹל-א ָֽ ה א֖ב ם֔כתא
ם֖עה ד֥מעַֽ יו ׃וא ָֽ טֱח ֶֽ ת י֥תלבל ם֖כיֵנפ־לע
םׁ֖ש־ר א ל֔פרע ָֽ ה־לא ׁש֣גִנ ֙הׁש מו קֹ֑חר ֵֽ מ
ר֖מאת
י֚כ ם֔תיאר ם֣תא ל֑ארׂש י יֵ֣נב־לא
אֹו֥בא י֔מׁש־ת א רי֣כזא ר֣ א ֙םֹוקמה
ע ַֽ ת ֙םיִנבא ח֤בזמ־םאו ׃ךי ִֽ תכר ֵֽ בו הי֖לע תפַ֥נה ֛ ךברַח י֧כ תי֑זג ן֖התא הֶ֥נבת־אֹל יִ֑חבזמ־לע תֹ֖לע ַֽ מב ה֥לע ַֽ ת־אֹלו ׃ה ֶֽ ללַֽחתו ׃וי ָֽ לע ֖ ךת ָֽ ורע ה֥לגת־אֹל ר֛ א
And the people saw thunder and lighting, the shofar’s sound, and the smoking mountain. They trembled and stood from afar. They said to Moses, “You talk with us, and we will hear, but let God not speak with us lest we die.” But Moses said to the people, “Fear not, God has come to exalt you, and that His awe be upon your faces so you won’t sin.” So the people remained far off, but Moses came near the opaque darkness, where God was. The Lord said to Moses, “Tell the children of Israel that you have seen that I have spoken with you from the heavens. Don’t make any gods of silver or gold. Make an altar of earth for Me, and slaughter beside it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your cattle. Wherever I allow My name to be mentioned, I will come and bless you. And when you make for Me an altar made of stones, don’t use cut stones, lest you wield your sword upon it and desecrate it. And you shall not ascend with steps upon My altar so that your nakedness shall not be exposed upon it.’ “
֙הׁש דֲח הָ֤חְנמ ם֜כבי֨רְקהב םי֗רוכבה םֹו֣יבו ה֣יהי ׁ֙שד֨ק־ארְקמ ם֑כית֖עב ָֽ ב ׳֔ה ַֽ ל
׃וׂש ע ַֽ ת אֹ֥ל ה֖דֹבע תכא֥למ־לכ ם֔כל
־יֵֽנב םי֧רפ ׳֔ה ַֽ ל ַ֙חֹ֨חיִנ ַחי֤רל ה֜לֹוע ם֨תברְקהו
םיׂ֖ש בכ ה֥עבׁש דָ֑ח א לי֣א םיַ֖נ רָ֛ק ב
ן מ֑ ׁש ב ה֣לולב תל֖ס ם֔תָחְנ֨מו ׃הָֽנ לי֖אל םיִ֔נֹרׂש ע ֙יֵנ דָ֔ח א ָֽ ה ר֣פל ֙םיִנֹרׂש ע דָ֑חא ָֽ ה ׂשב֖כל ןֹו֔רׂש ע ֙ןֹורׂש ע ׃דָֽחא ָֽ ה
ר֖פכל דָ֑חא םי֖זע רי֥עׂש ׃םי
On the day of the first fruits, when you offer up a new meal offering to the Lord, on your festival of Shavuot; it shall be a holy convocation for you, and you shall not perform any work. Instead, you shall offer a burnt offering with a spirit of satisfaction to the Lord: two young bulls, one ram, and seven lambs in the first year. Their meal offerings [shall be] fine flour mixed with oil; three tenths for each bull and two tenths for the ram. One-tenth for each lamb, for all seven lambs. One young male goat to atone for you. Besides the regular burnt offering and its meal offering, they shall be unblemished with their wine offerings.
Shavuot also means “oaths,” for on this day, G-d swore eternal devotion to us, and we, in turn, pledged everlasting loyalty to Him. Our sages have compared it to a wedding between the Creator and the Jewish people. So be sure to say “I do” when you hear the Ten Commandments.
At 20 years old, I had no intention of ever leading a religious life. I actually had no intentions whatsoever. I just figured that I would live day-byday and make decisions as they came. I liked the idea of being open-minded and receptive to any possibility, and feared constriction on any level. Then again, I was in college, so what better time for such an attitude?
Yet G-d had other plans for me (doesn't He always?), and my content little life suddenly became quite difficult and confusing. I was spending my junior year studying abroad in Israel, far away from friends and family. And I was in the midst of a falling-out with my immediate family to the extent that we were not speaking, leaving me financially independent.
As a full-time student working 40 hours a week to support myself, I wasn't exactly spiritually searching. I was simply surviving. Yet, everywhere I went, I kept meeting these enlightened, intellectually and emotionally fulfilled people. And they were all connected to this Torah thing and seemed to have an intimate and personal relationship with the big and only G-d.
Up to that time, I'd figured that He was hardly aware I existed. I never made much of an effort to get to know Him, and when we did communicate, our relationship was always very onesided. When I needed something, badly, I called to Him, and promised to change certain things that were wrong with my life. In return, I expected to be saved from my predicament.
But then, once those moments of need had passed, I would more or less forget about Him and I assumed that He forgot about me, too. Yet now I wanted to
understand the meaning and purpose in my life, and figured there was no better place to start than with the One who put me here. The problem was that my life was really busy, and I didn't know how I'd squeeze Him in. Between my work hours and school, there didn't seem to be a moment to spare.
And yet, in the most freakish kind of way, every step I made towards connecting with my Judaism, was met with this supernatural response. I made a request and BOOM, there was the answer. I was working too much? Hated my job? No problem. The next day a friend took me to lunch, the place needed a waitress, and before I knew it, I was working half the hours for double the pay of my previous job. Only one catch—I couldn't work on Shabbat like I had been at my other job. They were closed on Shabbat.
When the classes on Judaism I wanted to attend conflicted with my university schedule, the schedule changed. So now I was making good money, had my weekends free, could attend Shabbat meals with local families and went to the local yeshiva in the morning for some learning. Not bad.
At this point the academic year was about to end, and I had some serious choices to make. I knew I was at a crossroads in my life; I just wasn't sure which road I was going to take.
I had definitely fallen in love with Judaism. I had never felt more alive or more in-tune with my life and the world around me. Yet I was far from ready to make the transition from a life of no rules or boundaries to one of structure. The festival of Shavuot— commemorating the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai—was approaching and I figured I would use the opportunity for serious reflection and introspection.
But then again, my plans and my reality were not exactly the same. A few days before Shavuot one of my best friends arrived in Israel to surprise me. She was only around for the week and was adamant that I was going to travel with her to Egypt. And while initially I truly didn’t want to go, before I knew it, I was in Dahab, Egypt soaking in the sun on the white-sanded beach. Shavuot quickly became a distant memory. That is, until I was suddenly jarred awake by the woman next to me.
"So, where are you from?" she asked, nicely enough. Though I was not really in the mood for conversation, I explained I was studying in Jerusalem for the year. Her eyes lit up and she started asking me about Judaism. I shared my limited knowledge and instantly found myself passionately and intensely describing how incredible I found Judaism to be emotionally, spiritually and intellectually. We spoke for over five hours until we realized that we were sitting in the dark. She had to leave, but before doing so, innocently asked whether or not there was some Jewish holiday that night. My heart stopped. It was the eve of Shavuot. I had completely forgotten, and I was in Egypt.
For the first time in my life, I cared. I felt that I was losing out. It was as if I had been invited to a very special meeting with G-d, and I simply decided to do something else. As far as I could see, the damage was irreparable.
I was quite depressed and felt trapped in this "resort." I dragged myself to dinner with my friend and a group of others. To my great surprise, I ran into Mike, who attended Hebrew University with me. Although he wasn't what one would describe as religiously observant, he was quite spiritual. He joined us for dinner, and then said he had to leave.
I couldn't imagine what he had to do in Dahab, so I asked.
He told me he had specifically come to Dahab for Shavout, as it is very close to the site believed by many to be Mount Sinai. He wanted to spend the night learning Torah and asked if I cared to join him. I couldn't even respond, but the tears rolling down my cheeks sufficed for my "yes." We bid our friends goodbye and were off.
We found a small hut and lit a candle. Mike had brought with him an English/Hebrew Bible, and we decided we would take turns reading. We had no idea what we were doing but felt we should say some kind of blessing. We decided to wash our hands as we had seen people do when eating bread, and pronounced a blessing of our own, "Baruch Atah Hashem… al HaTorah."
We spent the entire night learning and discussing Torah. We read through the Ten Commandments and each one spoke to me in a different, profound way. I resolved during that time that I would stay in Israel for the summer to enroll in a full-time learning program about Judaism. I resolved that I would speak with my parents and repair our damaged relationship. And I resolved that I would no longer view Judaism and its observance as an outsider, but would do my best to keep G-d's Torah and His commandments.
It was Shavuot, and I had merited to receive the Torah. I walked out toward the ocean and said the Shema with all the power of my heart, soul, and mind. I knew G-d was listening, always had been, and always would be.
About: Sara Esther Crispe, a writer, inspirational speaker and mother of four, is the co-director of Interinclusion, a nonprofit multi-layered educational initiative celebrating the convergence between contemporary arts and sciences and timeless Jewish wisdom. Prior to that she was the editor of TheJewishWoman. org.
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if you're new to bourbon, here's a quick overview: Firstly, bourbon uses a mash bill (a mixture of grains like rye, wheat, or barley) containing at least 51% corn. Secondly, the aging process can only be done in new charred oak containers, bottled at no less than 80 proof. And while bourbon can be made anywhere in the United States, it is strongly associated with the state of Kentucky, The Official Home of Bourbon.
Jewish immigrants owned and operated many US distilleries in the early days. For example, Harry Blum was the owner of Jim Beam from 1945 to 1968. But it wasn't until recently that Kentucky's Bourbon Rabbi released his first bottle.
Growing up, Rabbi Chaim Litvin was one of the only orthodox kids living in Kentucky. In the eighties, his parents had moved from Brooklyn to open a Chabad center in Kentucky and serve the Jews living in the state.
Like many Chabad families living in remote areas, young Chaim left home as a preteen and traveled out of state for his Jewish education. Fortunately, when he eventually returned home, he was an expert
in kosher law, and, no surprise here, Chaim focused his studies on precisely how the laws of Kosher pertain to crafting a kosher whiskey. So you see where this is going.
After meeting Fraidy Raskin in Brooklyn, the two married and soon moved to
of the world's first Rabbi-made Kentucky Bourbon, rightly named BourbonRabbi. Is it any good? The bourbon may be too young for a bar mitzvah, but yes, the party has already started. While young in years, American Whiskey Magazine's blind-tasting team gave Bourbon Rabbi's 115-proof bourbon an excellent 8.8 and 8.9. "115 is the numerical value of the Hebrew word chazak or strength. To me, that's a message to say responsibly L'chaim with an attitude of empowerment of strength." Says Rabbi Litivin. When speaking with the Bourbon Rabbi, he reminds me that he is primarily an educator and sees his ever-growing line of premier bourbons as a way of connecting with people. One sip at a time.
Kentucky to run the growing Chabad programs in Louisville. Chaim soon accepted the role of kosher supervisor to certify the local Kentucky distilleries. As a result of Litivins's involvement in the bourbon process and industry, Rabbi Chaim discovered his passion project.
In 2021, the couple celebrated the release
I tasted it for myself, and I can say that the Bourbon Rabbi seems to have an old soul with rich flavors and complexities that you might expect from something decades older, just like young, yet wise, Rabbi Chaim Litvin, whom everyone calls the Bourbon Rabbi.
Read more and browse the Bourbon and Merch store at BourbonRabbi.com
shavuot 5783
