Chag HaShavuos 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- May 22
- 2 min read
בחדש השלישי לצאת בני ישראל מארץ מצרים ביום הזה באו מדבר סיני ... (שמות יט-א)
In Parshas Yisro there are several posukim which describe the days leading up to קבלת התורה. Rashi on the above posuk quotes Chazal who ask, why does it say "ביום הזה" - this day, and not "ביום ההוא" - that day, as we are commemorating what transpired then? He answers that this teaches us the axiom "בכל יום יהיו בעיניך כחדשים". From here, says R’ Yerucham Levovitz zt”l, we can learn a lesson that not only should the actual text of the Torah be like new - as Chazal say elsewhere - but even the "באו", coming to the beis medrash each and every day should be with a “frishkeit” and enthusiasm. The posuk in Yechezkel (46-9) says, "הבא דרך שער צפון...יצא דרך שער נגב". When one enters the בית המקדש through one entrance, their exiting should not be through the same door. R’ Chaim Shmulevitz zt”l explains that one of the greatest impediments in עבודת ה' is “hergel” - routine. “Rote” tends to make things boring. Thus, we are instructed to constantly keep things different and fresh.
Someone once asked if it was wise to ask R’ Shach zt”l (who was 99 at the time) crucial life’s queries. Being so old, he must be out of touch! The sharp reply received was eye-opening! R’ Shach is not 99! He is three times 33-years-old! He live each day with freshness and vigor, never stopping his youthful learning. Plus, he has life experience and additional daas Torah.
A story is told of a young “Rebbishe Einikel” who was davening selichos next to his Zaida. The Rebbe asked him why when saying the first few posukim ofשמע קולנו , he exhibited extra fervor but not when he said אל תשליכנו לעת זקנה? “It doesn’t apply to me! I’m not old yet!” said the boy. The Rebbe replied: “Sometimes we lose our zest even when we are young! These words don’t necessarily refer to a chronologically old person. We beg Hashem that even when we are young we shouldn’t lose our freshness!”
This Yom Tov of Shavuos, let us try to internalize this machshava, serving Hashem with the excitement of a young child. As it says, "כי נער ישראל ואהבהו" (הושע יא, א). Hashem loves us even more when we are young and vibrant. A Freilichen Yom Tov!