Post by nina2 on Apr 18, 2007 8:40:19 GMT -5
Celebrate Shavuot/Pentecost: May 22-24, 2007 The
Sounds of Pentecost:
-Yitro 19:3
“And on the third day, when it was morning, there were sounds (Kolos) and lightning; and there was a heavy cloud on the mountain. And the sound (Kol) of the shofar [resounded] very powerfully... And the sound (Kol) of the shofar continued.... And G‑d answered him in a [loud] voice (Kol).”
Acts 2
2:1 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
2:2 Suddenly a sound like a violent wind blowing came from heaven and filled the entire house where they were sitting.
2:3 And tongues spreading out like a fire appeared to them and came to rest on each one of them.
2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.
"Shavuot is the second of the three major festivals (Passover being the first and Sukkot the third) and comes exactly fifty days after Passover.
The Torah was given by God to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai over 3,300 years ago. Every year on this day we renew our acceptance of God's gift.
"When you take this people out of Egypt," said God to Moses when He revealed Himself to him in a burning bush at the foot of Mount Sinai, "you shall serve God on this mountain."
It took seven weeks to reach the mountain. The people of Israel departed Egypt on the 15th of Nissan (the first day of Passover); on the 6th of Sivan, celebrated ever since as the festival of Shavuot, they assembled at the foot of Mount Sinai and received the Torah from God.
King Solomon likens the Sinai Event to our wedding day—the day God chose us from amongst the nations and wedded us. On the occasion of His marriage, the Groom, who was (and remains) madly in love with His bride, could find no greater dowry to give than the Torah, His most precious possession, His crown jewel, His joy and pride.
Furthermore, He didn't suffice with making this treasure available for our use; He lovingly gave this gift completely and unconditionally.
This is why Shavuot is so special. It commemorates the day when God gave us the most precious jewel in his treasure
house.
"Fortunate are the people whose lot is thus!"
God's love for us drove Him to give us his most precious possession.
On Shavuot, we are commanded to bring the first of our wheat harvest as an offering to God, and not partake of that year's wheat until this is done.
Hence, the 49-day count leading from Passover to Shavuot is called "The Counting of the Omer"--a reference to the omer (a biblical measure) of barley that was brought on the first day of the count--and Shavuot is called Yom Habikkurim, "The Day of the First-Fruits Offering."
In Biblical tradition, barley is primarily animal food. Wheat is the key and ideal human food.
Now for the Women:
“Thus you shall say to the House of Jacob and tell the Children of Israel.”
-Yitro 19:3
Our sages state that “House of Jacob” refers to the women of Israel, and “Children of Israel” to the men.
When God gave the Torah to Israel, He told Moses to approach the women first.
The purpose of the exodus from Egypt was for the Jewish people to receive the Torah at Sinai, as it is written:
“When you will have brought the people out from Egypt, you shall serve God upon this mountain” (Shemot 3:12).
Of the exodus itself it is said that it occurred in the merit of the pious women of that generation. Thus, when it came to the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, the women were given precedence.
The Messianic redemption, too, will come about in the merit of the righteous women of Israel, as stated in the Midrash:
“All generations are redeemed by virtue of the pious women of their generation” (Yalkut Shimoni, Ruth: 606).
Thus the women will once again be first to receive the wondrous teachings to be heard from Moshiach.
Time to have a word with the ladies, said God to Moses."
Sounds of Pentecost:
-Yitro 19:3
“And on the third day, when it was morning, there were sounds (Kolos) and lightning; and there was a heavy cloud on the mountain. And the sound (Kol) of the shofar [resounded] very powerfully... And the sound (Kol) of the shofar continued.... And G‑d answered him in a [loud] voice (Kol).”
Acts 2
2:1 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.
2:2 Suddenly a sound like a violent wind blowing came from heaven and filled the entire house where they were sitting.
2:3 And tongues spreading out like a fire appeared to them and came to rest on each one of them.
2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit, and they began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.
"Shavuot is the second of the three major festivals (Passover being the first and Sukkot the third) and comes exactly fifty days after Passover.
The Torah was given by God to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai over 3,300 years ago. Every year on this day we renew our acceptance of God's gift.
"When you take this people out of Egypt," said God to Moses when He revealed Himself to him in a burning bush at the foot of Mount Sinai, "you shall serve God on this mountain."
It took seven weeks to reach the mountain. The people of Israel departed Egypt on the 15th of Nissan (the first day of Passover); on the 6th of Sivan, celebrated ever since as the festival of Shavuot, they assembled at the foot of Mount Sinai and received the Torah from God.
King Solomon likens the Sinai Event to our wedding day—the day God chose us from amongst the nations and wedded us. On the occasion of His marriage, the Groom, who was (and remains) madly in love with His bride, could find no greater dowry to give than the Torah, His most precious possession, His crown jewel, His joy and pride.
Furthermore, He didn't suffice with making this treasure available for our use; He lovingly gave this gift completely and unconditionally.
This is why Shavuot is so special. It commemorates the day when God gave us the most precious jewel in his treasure
house.
"Fortunate are the people whose lot is thus!"
God's love for us drove Him to give us his most precious possession.
On Shavuot, we are commanded to bring the first of our wheat harvest as an offering to God, and not partake of that year's wheat until this is done.
Hence, the 49-day count leading from Passover to Shavuot is called "The Counting of the Omer"--a reference to the omer (a biblical measure) of barley that was brought on the first day of the count--and Shavuot is called Yom Habikkurim, "The Day of the First-Fruits Offering."
In Biblical tradition, barley is primarily animal food. Wheat is the key and ideal human food.
Now for the Women:
“Thus you shall say to the House of Jacob and tell the Children of Israel.”
-Yitro 19:3
Our sages state that “House of Jacob” refers to the women of Israel, and “Children of Israel” to the men.
When God gave the Torah to Israel, He told Moses to approach the women first.
The purpose of the exodus from Egypt was for the Jewish people to receive the Torah at Sinai, as it is written:
“When you will have brought the people out from Egypt, you shall serve God upon this mountain” (Shemot 3:12).
Of the exodus itself it is said that it occurred in the merit of the pious women of that generation. Thus, when it came to the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, the women were given precedence.
The Messianic redemption, too, will come about in the merit of the righteous women of Israel, as stated in the Midrash:
“All generations are redeemed by virtue of the pious women of their generation” (Yalkut Shimoni, Ruth: 606).
Thus the women will once again be first to receive the wondrous teachings to be heard from Moshiach.
Time to have a word with the ladies, said God to Moses."