On the upcoming 5th of June we arrive at a new celebration in the Jewish Calendar: the
holiday of Shavuot. In Judaism, celebrations like this have the purpose of giving our people
the opportunity to relive the situations experienced by our forefathers. How are we to feel
and sense Shavuot? We have been counting the days and the weeks (49 days in all) in
what is traditionally known as SEFIRAT HA'OMER (the Counting of the Omer), just as
our ancestors did some 3300 years ago.
After these 49 days we stood by a little mountain prepared to listen with our hearts and
minds. At that instant we stood united as if we were "only one man with one heart" for that
unique and most relevant moment in human history. The moment in which we were given
the greatest gift by the Almighty. The Torah by means of His words, materialized in the
universally revered Ten Commandments. So we arrived at Shavuot exactly 49 days after
that mystical night which marked the end of centuries of darkness in the existence of the
Israelite nation. It was no accident of history but the beginning of a Divine plan with a
special role for our people.
Leaving Egypt had an ultimate goal which did not confine itself to freedom and liberty. As
many wrongly and partially want to remember, the Theme of the Exodus was not limited to
"SHELACH ET AMI - LET MY PEOPLE GO" but it had a second and more important
part: "VEYA'ABDUNI - SO THAT THEY MAY SERVE ME."
To serve G-D is to truly abandon Egyptian slavery to enter a new dimension of our
existence, becoming subjects to the only master, G-d, the G-d of Abraham (mercy), Isaac
(sacrifice) and Jacob (truth). As our sages expressed it: "AL TIKRE CHARUT AL
HALUCHOT ELA CHERUT: do not interpret it as 'engraved' on the Tablets but 'freedom'
on the Tablets" -- EN LECHA BEN CHORIN ELA MI SHEOSEC BATORA: THERE
IS NO FREER MAN THAN THE ONE THAT LIVES ACCORDING TO THE
TORAH.
We know this from the very first time G-d spoke to Moses about the liberation of the
Israelites from Egypt. The Lord said to Moses: "This is your sign. ..when you leave Egypt
come and serve Me at this mountain .... "Moses listened but apparently did not initially
grasp the weight of the message because he could not take his eyes away from that
remarkable vision before his eyes. He heard the words of the Lord but his heart and mind
weremesmerized by that wonderful sight he could not explain...he kept asking himself,
"Why does the bush keep burning yet is not consumed?"
Moses stood on top of Mount Sinai facing the gigantic task of liberating hundreds of
thousands of slaves, guiding them to this very mountain to "feed" them with words: words of
life, words of a new order and ethical purpose, words of justice and equality, words of
TORAH. Shavuot, "the time of the giving of the Torah," was the turning point in human
history, through the Sinai experience. It was the moment when each of these slaves heard:
ANOCHI HASHEM: I AM THE LORD YOUR G-D WHO BROUGHT YOU OUT
OF EGYPT... letting them know who they were and why they were chosen.
It was a message to each and every one of them as it is to us: "know who you are, where
you come from and where you are heading to." The message then, just as of today, take
pride in your heritage. You are descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. You stood
before the Lord in Sinai.
Your ancestors may not have crossed the Atlantic to discover a new Continent, but they
crossed the Red Sea on dry land. They may not have built great fortresses or walled cities,
but they built the first sanctuary to the Divine presence. They may not have made great
conquests, but they taught you that the real warrior is the one who conquers his instincts.
They may not have ruled over great empires, but they ruled over time, surviving it.
So today at the beginning of the 21st century, here we are, proud of our past, struggling
with our present and confident in our future...because that is what the burning bush
represents. Our people may be burned but will never be consumed. There is a small
buming bush inside each of us, that flame within us which keeps us spiritually alive, and the
burning desire of belonging to this noble and great nation: AM YISRAEL. We make no
apologies, no explanations for living in accordance with our heritage, which has worked for
us for the last 3000 years and will continue to do so...the bush burns but is not consumed