I had just gotten out of the car to put the Camp Aleph "welcome packets" in the mailbox when he asked me "what is that on your head"?
I turned to see a young boy walking home from school with his friend, and before I had a chance to reply, she says, "that's a Kippah, don't you know that I'm Jewish"? And they kept right on walking talking about what being Jewish means etc.
Nothing happens by accident. Why had this interaction taken place? I hadn't uttered a word. A Yarmulka had inspired a question, answer and the ensuing conversation.
Reflecting on this micro-episode, I realized that this is what the upcoming holiday of Shavuot is all about. (By the way, please join us for Cheesecake, Ice Cream, a delicious dairy spread and the reading of the 10 commandments).
Mount Sinai was the location of choice for the monumental occasion of the giving of the Torah. In fact, the Midrash relates that all the mountains were arguing over the honor. Each one thought themselves to be worthy as the chosen spot. This one because it was the tallest mountain, this one the widest, etc.
Ultimately, the one mountain that didn't enter into the discussion, without any claim to fame was chosen. It was Mount Sinai. The lowest of the bunch. For to get the Torah, we need to have humility, the ability to listen, a level of selflessness.
Well, if humility is all the rage, why not choose a valley? Here we take the lesson that we also need confidence and strength. The ability to stand up against the current.
A Jew once complained to his Rebbe that people were trampling on him when they entered the Synagogue. The Rebbe's advice: "Don't lie down in front of the doorway". Humility is not synonymous with being a doormat.
The image of Mount Sinai shows us that we need both qualities: the ability to listen and respect, and at the same time, the firmness to stand tall and proud as a Jew.
And at that moment, standing on a Petaluma streetcorner, I saw the Yarmulka's message in action resulting in a Jewish girl standing tall and proud.
ב"ה