Shavuot is a critically important Jewish holiday that often is forgotten about by the less observant members of the Jewish community. Why? Shavuot kind of sneaks up on people since its just a one day holiday with Scriptural observances mostly related to the agriculture calendar. It does help that we are commanded to count 50 days from Passover in order to get to Shavuot, but then many people forget to count! Life’s busy! There’s a lot going on! Who needs one more thing to do!!
I have read several news articles recently about a new pandemic in our world: loneliness. This pandemic is unique in that it is mostly self inflicted due to misplaced priorities and poor decision making. It also seems to be very much an affliction among the world’s educated, successful and wealthy. There’s also clear evidence that its deadly, causing serious illness and even death in those infected with it.
Shavuot does seem in some ways to be an inconvenient holiday, until one remembers what the holiday is all about: its another opportunity to set aside our daily isolating activities and gather with others to celebrate our relationship with G-d! An opportunity to gather with others for communal worship, reflection, and to express gratitude to G-d for all that he has done for us. Actually we don’t have to wait for a holiday to gather with others for this. We can gather with others like this every week! And we don’t really need to wait until a weekend service to do this, we can get together with others any time!! Unless we are too busy prioritizing things that might ultimately lead to loss of relationship with G-d and others, opening us up to catching loneliness.
The author of Hebrews wrote a prescription for loneliness almost two thousand years ago: “And do not neglect our own meetings, as is the habit of some, but encourage one another—and all the more so as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25 TLV) How deeply do you pursue your relationship with G-d? How deeply do you pursue relationships with others? All the Scriptures teaching can be summarized simply as “Relationship with G-d; relationship with people”. Something to think about!
Forward for Messiah!
Kirk Gliebe
Rabbi &
Director
