The Magic Of Shavuot, Pizza, and …

The Children

According to the *Midrash, when the Jewish people stood at Mount Sinai ready to receive the Torah, G-d asked, “Who would guarantee that the people would keep true to it. They answered “Our ancestors will guarantee it.” G-d did not find this acceptable so the Jewish people cried out, “Our prophets!” G-d still did not accept this answer. The Jewish people tried their final resource and offered, “Our children will be our guarantors.” G-d responded, “They are worthy guarantors. Because of them, I will give you the Torah.” Midrash Rabba, Song of Songs 1:4

 
We just celebrated the magical holiday of Shavuot earlier this week. Magical for the truly sacred reason… We celebrate the receiving of the Torah on Mount Sinai given more than 3300 years ago.

And magical for the fun reason that after we receive
 the Ten Commandments, we have a “dairy” party with ice cream, pizza and other dairy delights.
 
 
 
(And “we” means all ages including the tiny six day old baby girl who came to this year’s Ten Commandments reading!).
 
Shavuot 2001

Twenty-one years ago was my first enchantment with Judaism hearing the Ten Commandments with my then one and four year old sons. We attended the festive ice cream extravaganza afterwards, witnessing kindness, inclusiveness, and spunk. That was the day I found my place. 

I love that it’s the children who are the Torah’s guarantors. When children learn and love the Torah, they not only bring their fresh innocence, but they are the next parents that will pass it on to the next class of children who will grow up and pass it on to the next and the next, and the next. The history of the Jews: love of Torah passing from parent to child ad infinitum.
 

 

And before we part…
a brief peek into an upcoming surprise!

 

Very soon, a new voice will join us to share: “The History of Judaism“.

Spoiler alert, our new beloved teacher’s name is Tehilla.

Tehilla will share stories starting at the very beginning of the Bible … even before the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. The last 6000 years will come to life in new and almost tangible ways. These golden nuggets will be delivered in short five minute segments and will also be interpreted into American Sign Language for Deaf listeners.

In keeping with what Hashem wants, we can also be like children as we learn with fresh eyes and ears.
 
And we pass this knowledge and wisdom on to our children.
 
 
A continuous cycle. Or as my friend Shimona says, not a circular cycle but a spiral one that expands in each retelling.
 
More to come! 
 
Love, Vivi רָחֵל 💗  ©
 

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