The Gift of Shavuos

by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine

The holiday of Shavuos is known as the time when we received the Torah. It is an exciting commemoration, a special time. But there is one big question. The luchos [two tablets] that resulted from Shavuos were shattered when Moshe came down and saw the golden calf. The luchos had to be given again on Yom Kippur. So we wonder, what remains of that original Shavuos? What is it that we commemorate?

The Medrash tells us that when Moshe was ready to accept the Torah, the angels objected to Hashem, and said, “The Torah is so sacred. How can You give it to the human being who will defile it?”

Moshe responded to their argument by saying, “It says in Torah, ‘Honor your father and mother’ clearly the Torah is meant for human beings because angels don’t have parents. It says in Torah, ‘I am Hashem your G-d who took you out of the land of Egypt, the house of slavery.’ Clearly the Torah is meant for human beings.”

What exactly was Moshe telling the angels with his response? The angels also knew that they don’t have parents. The angels didn’t work as slaves; the Jewish people did.

I would like to suggest that the real argument between the angels and Moshe was whether the Torah could be observed. Certainly the Torah was written in a way that spoke of the human condition. But if human beings would simply violate its laws, then “leave it in heaven,” the angels argued. Let it remain a philosophical and theoretical pursuit. “Leave the Torah here,” the angels argued, “and don’t allow it to be defiled human frailty.”

What was Moshe’s response? Moshe didn’t know how the Jewish people would be able to observe Torah. But one thing he knew. The Torah was meant for humans. This was Hashem’s plan. “What is written in it?” was the question that he asked. If Hashem clearly meant these mitzvos for humans, then He must give us the ability to fulfill them.

This, Rabbi Luzzatto says, is the gift of Shavuos. The luchos that were given on that day were broken, but the blessing that came with the luchos lives on. On this day Hashem gave us the ability to observe Torah. It was like a bar or bat mitzvah when Hashem grants the child a yetzer tov – a natural desire to observe mitzvos.

In retrospect, the angels were correct. A human being cannot expect to observe all of Torah. “Torah will become defiled if given to humans.” But Moshe was equally correct. “The Torah was clearly meant for humans.” Hashem needed to grant us special gift on Shavuos. A new desire was planted within us to do good. It is that gift that lives on even if the first luchos were broken.

So as we celebrate the holiday, let us take a moment to tap into the energy of the day. If we pray for it, Hashem will grant this gift to us as well. Mitzvah observance should come naturally to us. This is the gift of Shavuos.

With best wishes for a wonderful Yom Tov.

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