For more than a century, the Reform movement has marked the anniversary of the giving of Torah at Mt. Sinai with the ceremony of Confirmation. Each year we look forward to celebrating with our young people as they mark their Confirmation of Judaism as young adults. We celebrate their learning as we usher in the holiday of Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks and the receiving of Torah at Mt. Sinai.
I am convinced that the festival of Shavuot is the least remembered or observed of holidays among the big three (that is the three festivals that in the time of the Temple Jews went up to Jerusalem to observe – Sukkot and Pesach being the other two). Since religious school is usually over by the time the holiday rolls around, few of us had terribly strong memories of Shavuot ritual. For many, Confirmation is the only ritual surrounding Shavuot that sticks in our minds. Yet, the holiday includes wonderful potential -- after all it does celebrate this most mysterious and momentous event: the giving of Torah at Sinai
But Shavuot is not only for young people; all of us stood at Sinai. Shavuot is a celebration of Revelation, of the Giving of the Torah to the Jewish people on Mt. Sinai. In recognition of this Revelation, we read the portion of the Torah that the Torah itself says took place on Sinai the story of the giving of the Ten Words, otherwise known as the Ten Commandments.
These Ten Commandments are not the only commandments of Judaism. Our tradition tells us that there are 613 mitzvot (the word means "commandments," not "good deeds"), all of which are important. But somehow, the Ten Commandments remain for us among the most basic of all laws. They are laws which form the foundation of the life of society: laws against idolatry, about family, about resting, and about basic morality. And these Ten Commandments remain important in our lives today.
Shavuot is also one of the special festivals in the year that has one of the five "scrolls" or megillot assigned to it. On Shavuot, the scroll that we read is the Book of Ruth. There are three reasons that the Book of Ruth is read on Shavuot. First, the story of Ruth takes place during the summer harvest. Second, the story of Ruth reminds us that the Torah, which we received at Sinai, is so precious and valuable. Ruth, a Moabite, chooses Judaism. She elects to cast her lot with the Jewish people, saying: "Where you go, I will go, where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God shall be my God." Ruth's choosing Judaism makes us more aware and appreciative of the blessings of being Jewish. Third, some scholars say that we read the Book of Ruth because it reminds us of King David. King David was Ruth's great-grandson and traditionally Shavuot marks both David's birth and death.
It is customary to stay up the entire night (leil) of Shavuot studying Torah with the community as we symbolically prepare to enter into a sacred relationship with God. Many contemporary Jews choose to intensify and personalize the experience of revelation through studying Torah, talmudic, mystical and modern text and adding our own experiences and interpretations.
So, join us for Shavuot and the Confirmation service this year, and take some time to appreciate the gift of Torah in your life today as we stand together at Sinai.
Mazal Tov to our Confirmands and Happy Shavuot to All!
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