20 May WHY IS SHAVUOS DIFFERENT

As we draw nearer to
the conclusion of our
countdown of sefira,
our thoughts are turning
more and more to the
culmination of these seven
weeks of waiting, namely
Shavuos. And as we make
our preparations for the holiday, we come to
realize how different Shavuos is from any other
chag.
In the Torah, we are commanded to celebrate
Pesach on the 15th day of Nissan. Similarly,
we are commanded to celebrate Succos on the
15th day of Tishrei. The Torah spells out for
us exactly when we must celebrate these two
regalim. But the third regel, however, is not
given a specific date in the calendar, absolutely
no mention is made of the fact that Shavuos
falls on the sixth day of Sivan. All we are told
is that we must celebrate Shavuos fifty days
after Pesach. What an unusual way to pinpoint
a Festival!?
Likewise, the Torah tells us the primary reasons
we celebrate the other regalim. We celebrate
Pesach to commemorate the night when
Hashem was, “Posach al batei bnei Yisroel —
Hashem passed over the houses of the Jews,”
during the plague of makos b’choros (killing
of the firstborn), the night of y’tzias Mitzrayim
(going out from Egypt). We celebrate Succos
to commemorate the ‘succos’ that Hashem set
up for us in the midbar (desert) to protect us –
namely the Ananei HaKovod (clouds of glory).
But the reason given for celebrating Shavuos
is not the ikar, the most important reason. The
Torah tells us that it is a Chag Bikurim, a time
when the first fruits were brought to the Bais
Hamikdash. Nowhere is it stated that Shavuos
is, “Z’man matan Toraseinu — The time of
Giving of the Torah.”
Another difference we see is that other Yomim
Tovim have at least one specific mitzvah
pertaining to that, and only that, Yom Tov.
Pesach has the mitzvah of matzah as well as,
“sipur y’tzias Mitzrayim — discussing at
length the departure from Egypt.” Succos has
the chiyuv (obligation) to eat in the succah as
well as the Arba Minim, the lulav and esrog.
Rosh Hashanah has the mitzvah of shofar.
Shavuos does not have any specific mitzvah.
Especially in our times (as opposed to the
times of our Temple), when even the korbon
(ritual sacrifice) of the shtei ha’lechem cannot
be brought, Shavuos has no special Mitzvah
pertaining to it alone.
Reb Eliezer also tells us that on Pesach and
Succos, it is perfectly all right for one to devote
the whole of the Yom Tov to learning Torah.
One is excused from the celebration of the
chag if he immerses himself in Torah study.
Ironically, on Shavuos however, a person is
obligated to enjoy himself, to have Simchas
Yom Tov. So we can see that there are many
differences between Shavuos and the other
chagim.
It is our responsibility to understand why
Shavuos is set apart and to take these limudim
(lessons) and to impress them upon our children
and to everyone we know.
Shavuos celebrates the day Hashem gave

B’nei Yisroel the Torah, the Lekach Tov, the
most precious possession. It is different than
the other two regalim in that, during Pesach
and Succos, we are celebrating ancient events.
Even though these events affect our daily lives
even now, they happened long ago.
As such, we use ‘external stimulants’ in order
to be able to feel and relive those times. We
need the mitzvahs of matzah and moror, sipur
y’tzias Mitzrayim, and the succah in order to
be able to experience the reasons for these Yom
Tovim, in order to feel that we ourselves were
slaves in Egypt and Hashem took us out and
surrounded us with Ananei Hakovod. Adom
nifal k’fi p’uloso — a person reacts and feels
what he experiences and does.
Matan Torah is not something that happened
in ancient times. The Torah is viable and
with us every day. Kabalas Hatorah happens
every day. As it says in Shema, “Asher
Anochi m’tzavacha hayom — As I (Hashem)
commanded you today.” Rashi explains this
to mean that we should feel that the Torah was
just given to us each and every day. Al t’hei
b’einecha k’d’yukna y’shana — don’t let it
be in your eyes like an old decree. It is a new
decree, fresh everyday. B’chol yom v’yom
y’hiyu b’einecha k’chadashos. Everyday, it
should be like new in your eyes.
Since we experience Kabalas Hatorah everyday,
we do not need a special mitzvah. We do
not need any ‘external stimulants’ to help us
relive the moment we received the Torah; we
experience it every day. This is similar to what
the Rishonim tell us about Shmini Atzeres:
It does not have any special mitzvah either.
What are we celebrating on that day? Simchas
Hatorah — and we have no true simcha except
for the simcha of the Torah. Ein lonu shiur rak
Hatorah Hazos — We have nothing remaining
but the Torah. When we are m’sameyach with
the Torah, we do not need any other stimulus.
Rav Moshe Feinstein, Zt”l, used the above to
explain that the Torah did not give any specific
day for celebrating Shavuos, since every day
of the year is Kabalas HaTorah. The Torah has
no set date. This is similar to the celebration
of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. We do
not have such days designated during the year
since we are obligated in the mitzvah of Kibud
Av V’aim all year round and not just one day a
year. Kabalas HaTorah is 365 days each year
and not just one day a year.
Reb Yisroel Salanter, Zt”l, takes this point one
step further. He explains that the Torah was
given to us in the midbar so that it had no
specific place. As a result, no one can claim
an exemption from learning and following the
Torah because they were not in the place of its
giving. So, the Torah has no set time and no
set place.
Reb Moshe, Zt”l, continues along this vein
and tells us that, in the Kodesh HaKodoshim
(holiest place in the Sanctuary of the Temple),
there was no room allocated for the Aron.
[We realize this when we look carefully at the
dimensions given to us in the Torah. There
was not enough square footage for the Aron to
have a place to stand.] The Aron stood in the
Holy of Holies only because of a neis (miracle).
Why was this? We know that Hashem does

not go out of His way to make a neis. Surely
when Hashem was giving the measurements
to Moshe, He could have enlarged the Kodesh
Hakodoshim and made room for the Aron.
The fact that the Aron had no designated area
within the Mishkan teaches us a valuable
lesson. Torah does not have a set place. It
can be found anywhere. It should be found
everywhere. And this is why the Torah does
not call Shavuos, “Z’man Matan Toraseinu.”
Everyday is the day we are given the Torah.
(The M’forshim, in Mesechtas Rosh Hashanah
tell us that this is why Rosh Hashanah is not
called Yom Hadin as well. A person should
feel that everyday he is being judged; not just
one day a year. Adom nidon b’chol yom — a
person is judged at all times.)
Shavuos differs from Succos and Pesach in one
other way as well. Both Succos and Pesach are
long holidays, each lasting seven days. Shavuos
lasts only one day (not including the extra day
added on to Yom Tov because we are in Golus).
The reason for this is because both Succos and
Pesach celebrate and commemorate an event
of seven.Our final freedom from the Egyptians
climaxed seven days after the exodus with
the miracle of the Red Sea. The seven days of
Succos commemorate the seven clouds which
protected us in the desert.
Kabalas Hatorah, however, was started and
completed in one day. Therefore, we are only
commanded to commemorate that day with one
day. The Sefer Hatodaah teaches us a Sifri on
Parshas R’eay. The Torah says, “Bo u’reay
— come and see…,” how much Hashem
worries about the money of Klal Yisroel. See
how much Hashem cares about our parnasa
(livelihoods). Shavuos takes place at harvest
time. Had Hashem obligated us to celebrate a
week long holiday, the crops would not have
been harvested on time, and would have been
ruined. So, financially, B’nei Yisroel would
have been ruined.
Since it would be too difficult for us to have a
long Chag at this time, Hashem designated only
one day so that we would not suffer because of
it. Chas Hakodosh Baruch Hue al m’monam
shel Yisroel. Hashem is always looking out
for our benefit – financial or otherwise. After
all, we are Hashem’s chosen nation and He
cares about us and loves us. “Habocheir b’amo
Yisroel B’ahava — Hashem chooses Yisroel
His People with love.” Shavuos is only one
day so that it does not adversely affect us
economically and agriculturally.
Many people feel that the Torah is outdated;
that it doesn’t keep up with the times.
However, Hashem gives us the Torah every
day, hayom. Hashem knows the future; He
foresaw it all. And in the Torah, we can find
all the answers to all our questions, even our
modern day questions. Hashem provided for
everything, including a man on the moon,
laser surgery, genetic coding, voice activation
technology, and all other modern achievements
and advancements.
In the blessing of the Torah we say, “Asher
bachar banu…v’nasan Lonu… — Who chose
us and…and Who gave to us…,” all in the past
tense. However, when we end off the bracha,
we say, “Nosein Hatorah — Who gives the

Torah ,” in the present tense. This is, again, to
strengthen the point that Hashem is giving the
Torah to us everyday.
On the other Yomim Tovim, B’nei Yisroel
were commanded to bring a communal korbon
chatas. Not so on Shavuos. For the M’forshim
tell us, Kol ham’kabel alov ohl Torah, mavirin
mimenu kol chataav — Whomever accepts
upon himself the yoke of Torah, is forgiven for
all of his sins.” So if we truly accept the Torah
on Shavuos, we have no need for a korbon
chatas, since we are free of sin.
Shavuos is an especially significant time
for B’nei Torah, those who learn in Kollel
and Yeshivos, those who work and learn
when they can, and those who send their
children to Yeshivas. For these, Shavuos has
a special meaning. On this day, the Gemora
[in Pesachim, 78B] tells us that Rav Yoseif
asked his household to prepare him the most
sumptuous meal possible, an igla tilsa, which in
our days might conceivably equal fillet mignon.
For, Rav Yoseif would say, “Ee lo hayoma d’ka
gorim kama Yoseif ika b’shuka — if it wasn’t
for this day which caused me to be different,
I would be like many other Yoseif’s in the
marketplace.” Just like a doctor celebrates the
anniversary of the day he was given his degree,
just like a lawyer celebrates the day he passed
the bar, so too B’nei Torah should celebrate
the day we were given the Torah, the special
something which caused us to be set apart.
Torah should hold such a strong place in our
hearts that we could not survive without it.
Just as Reb Yochonon, who lost ten children
but still remained full of emunah and bitochon
(faith and trust), so much so that he used to go
and comfort other parents who lost children.
Yet, when his chavrusa, Reish Lakish, died,
he could not stand the loss of Torah. Even
after Reb Elazar ben P’dos became his new
chavrusa and would tell Reb Yochonon that
his views were correct, and even bringing him
proof to that effect, Reb Yochonon could not
be comforted. Proof that he was right was not
what Reb Yochonon wanted to hear. In the
past, every time he would make a statement to
Reish Lakish, Reish Lakish would ask him 24
questions on it. In turn, he would reply with
24 answers. In this way Torah was beautified,
and grew greatly. Reb Yochonon was so grief
stricken that he too was niftar.
Let us look at the Torah as that one most
important thing. “Achas sha’alti…shivti
B’vais Hashem — One thing I ask of Hashem,
that I should be able to dwell in the House
of Hashem.” We pray that we should dwell
whenever possible in the Batei Medrashim, in
the Yeshivos, or by the dining room table in the
home, and learn Torah all the days of our lives,
and that Limud, Harbotzas, and Hachzakas
HaTorah be the goal we strive for all the days
of our lives.