We've done this so many times. Whether it's celebrating the Passover Seder, lighting the Menorah, or hearing the Ten Commandments. The food tastes delightful (although the Matzah can be a bit crunchy), the company great, but what about the holiday? Are we celebrating food (Devorah's is always worth being celebrated), or does the food help us celebrate a timeless moment? But even if we focus on the essence of the celebration, isn't a "been there, done that" situation? So we got out of Egypt, Mount Sinai was a miraculous display, but after 3,332 years, doesn't it get a bit stale? The opening words of the Big Ten are "I am Hashem, your G-d, who took you out of Egypt". Now in English, you is the same as you, whether I'm talking to a crowd or having a private conversation. In Hebrew, however, there is a nuance between the singular and plural versions of you. And here, we find out that the Ten Commandments (and the Torah and our heritage as a whole) were not just given to a nation gathered around the foot of Mt Sinai, but to each and every individual. It's a personal relationship. Now in most years, we might get distracted by the cheesecake and ice cream (which have their own beautiful significance - and we have a special surprise for our families this week - click for details). This year, for the most part, our Shavuot experience, our celebration of receiving the Torah (Friday, May 29th) will be a personal one. So explore your role, invest in your journey, seize this unique moment and make it count. So while, we hope and pray that this is all soo behind us, and that we can return to communal celebrations, keep in mind that it always has been just that - personal.
ב"ה