Shavuos - 5779

Shavuos - 5779

Rabbi Hal Miller

Renewal

As we discussed in the past, Shavuos is called by many names. Three of them give

us insight into the deepest purpose of the holiday, renewal.

In Shemos [23:16] the holiday is called Chag HaKatzir, the festival of the harvest. In

Bamidbar [28:26] it is called Yom HaBikurim, the day of the first fruits. Then in the

Gemora [Rosh Hashanah 16a, Megillah 31b] it is called the new year for the trees,

specifically referring to fruit trees.

Why is renewal so important to Judaism? Couldn't everything just stay as it is, without

messing with the original Creation? In context of Shemittah, Sefer HaChinuch in

mitzvah 84 indicates the importance of this concept. "The world is constantly being

renewed by God. We desist from working the land, so that we might remember that

the produce of the earth is not a result of its potential, but is a result of there being a

Master who has so ordered."

Shemittah is tied to the harvest. One year out of seven we do not plant and harvest,

thus it would seem that one year in seven, Shavuos would be unnecessary, or even

disconnected. A simple answer would be that this name refers to the time of year

rather than the activity of harvesting itself. Perhaps we can read a little more into it

by understanding that this name is to remind us that during Shemittah, we do not

harvest, but instead trust in the God Who appeared to us at Sinai at this time of the

year.

The first fruits are brought to Yerushalayim to be eaten each year, shared with the

Kohen. It is the beginning of the harvest of tree fruit, and coincides in season with

Shavuos. The end of the season is Sukkos, when we thank God for having given

us such abundance. At the beginning, we thank Him for renewing the process, and

pray that we receive the abundance we will later thank Him for.

The word bikurim stems from bechor, or firstborn. But there is only one bechor in

the lifetime of a mother, so how does that indicate renewal? By the very fact that a

new generation is coming in to ensure continuity of the world. It may not be renewed

each year for this particular mother, but her participation in the renewal of

generations fits the pattern.

Certainly fruit trees blossom each spring. Leaves reappear, the trees come back to

life. This renewal is a promise from God to us that He will continue to provide for us,

even in ways that seem amazing to us, such as bringing "dead" trees back to life.

Sfas Emes tells us that there is also a symbolic factor. He writes, "The first Mishnah

in Peah reminds us that the principal reward for our earthly endeavors comes in

the World to Come, and in this world we enjoy only the fruits of our efforts." On

Shavuos, he says, we are reminded of this and encouraged to renew our efforts

to earn that real reward. He maintains that on Shavuos, we are not limited to only

spiritual studies, but are to appreciate the material things around us as well, that it is

all tied together.

Each year, we rededicate ourselves to Torah study in acknowledgment of God's

appearance on Sinai at this time of year. That itself is a renewal, both of Torah

study, and of faith. By this annual reminder that He gave us the Torah, we are

inspired to rededicate ourselves to His service.