T O R A H F A X ® Torah on the spot for people on the go
Thursday, Iyar 24, 5768 (39th day of the Omer) /
May 29, 2008
The holiday of Shavuot is in less than two weeks. The holiday begins,
Sunday night, June 8th. Shavuot is celebrated one day in Israel and two
days in the Diaspora.
Shavuot commemorates one of the most important events in Jewish history;
the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. The Torah was given 3320 years
ago, in the Hebrew calendar year 2448.
Q. Why is the holiday called "Shavuot"?
A. Shavuot in Hebrew means "weeks." Shavuot is the only holiday
for which the Torah did not establish a specific day of the month. It
is celebrated on the 50th day, after counting the Omer for a period of
seven weeks. The name Shavuot is because the holiday comes seven "weeks" after
we begin counting the Omer on Pesach.
Q. The three festive holidays; Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot are in the
spring, summer and fall. Why are there no festive holidays in the winter?
A. In the days of the Holy Temple it was a mitzvah for Jews living in
Israel to go to Jerusalem for the festive holidays and celebrate there.
Our sages explain that G-d didn't want to make it difficult for the people
to have to go to Jerusalem during the winter, so He didn't assign any
holidays in the cold and rainy winter months.
Q. What is the meaning of the word, "Torah"?
A. "Torah" means to "teach" and to "guide".
The Torah teaches and guides us how to conduct our lives in accordance
with G-d's will.
Q. The Ten Commandments are first recorded in the Torah in the Book of
Exodus (chapter 20). How many letters are there in the Ten Commandments
as they appear in Exodus?
A. 620 letters.
Q. What is the significance of this number to the Torah?
A. In the Torah there are 613 commandments (mitzvot). In addition to
these mitzvot, the sages have added another seven mitzvot, which together
make 613. The 613 letters in the Ten Commandments alludes to the fact
that all the mitzvot are rooted and enshrined in the Ten Commandments.
Q. How old was Moshe and his brother Aaron at the Giving of the Torah
at Mount Sinai?
A. Moshe was eighty years and Aaron eighty three.
HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY
**********************
In loving memory of Aniko Galambos - Chana Devorah bas Miriam - Yartzeit
is today (Iyar 24th).
May her soul rest in peace in Gan Eden and may she continue to be an
advocate on High for her adoring family and especially her two grand-daughters.
