Get this. The Torah was around before the Torah was around.
That's right. Before the Torah was given on Mount Sinai, the Torah was already being studied. In fact, we're told that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob kept the entire Torah.
So then what's the big deal? Why the celebration and fanfare? (Not that I mind a good slice of cheesecake). What truly occurred at the Mountain amidst the thunder and lightning, witnessed by three million strong?
So here's the scoop: Prior to the giving of the Torah, there were two separate worlds; spiritual and physical. The two couldn't mix, interact or even relate to each other. It would be like trying to fit an elephant through the eye of a needle. So in order to experience spirituality, one had to escape, even reject the physical.
The magic that happened that day was that the barriers went down. It now became possible to fuse the two worlds together. To inspire the physical with a spiritual energy. To transform mundane objects into something special. A Torah scroll. Shabbat candles. A blessing on a Challah. A coin to charity.
At Sinai, we learned that the whole purpose of existence is to live our lives - personal, family, community and business, infused with inspiration and holiness.
Transforming matter into something that matters.
So this Sunday, as we celebrate Shavuot, the giving of the Torah for the 3,328th time, think how you can bring some more spiritual energy within the life that you are already living.
Here's one way; come hear the 10 commandments and make a blessing on some ice cream!
Wishing you a Happy Shavuot!
Rabbi Dovid Bush
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