The Holiday of Shavuot is coming up. Soon the house will be filled with the delicious smell of freshly baked cheesecakes, cheesy lasagna and all sorts of dairy delicacies. This, as a tribute to when the Torah was first given, along with the laws of Kosher. Being that it was Shabat, preparing meat and "kosher-izing their utensils were not options, so they ate dairy instead.
We'll be getting into the spirit with a cheesecake edition of Kids in the Kitchen (this Monday), and a Floral Decorating Workshop led by Israeli-born Tali Bousikla (on Wednesday - a Jewish Women's Circle event). For the occasion of the giving of the Torah, Mount Sinai miraculously sprouted a luscious blanket of flowers.
The pinnacle is next Sunday, when we read the Ten Commandments, reliving that great moment that turned us into a nation. We'll be celebrating in grand style with an Ice Cream party deluxe, and an elaborate dairy spread, following the reading of the Ten Commandments Live!
We hope you can join us for one or all of these events.
I'll conclude with a quick thought: Why was the Torah given in the desolate desert instead of some glamorous resort to fit the magnitude of the moment?
Well, precisely for this very reason. Had it been given on Wall Street, there would have to be a board and committee. Had it been in Israel, a choice would have to be made between the Holy city of Jerusalem, the Mystical city of Safed or hi-tech Tel Aviv.
Instead, G-d wanted a simple and absolute connection. Us and the Torah. Each one of us having full and equal rights to participate in this gift.
Rabbi Dovid Bush