Shavuot: "I'm Getting Married in the Morning..."

BS"D

This article is dedicated as a zechus for Refuah Sheleima for Esther Shaindel bas Shoshana.

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Based on/inspired by an article on Tikkun Leil Shavuos by Eli Landes, for Chabad.org.

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A moving festivity permeates the atmosphere, as we sway and pray through the evening's services.  At their conclusion, the men fold their talleisim, the women cluster in companionable conversation, and youth mill around, anticipating what's to come.  Siddurim are closed and laid aside with a kiss...  but no coats are donned, the lights remain bright and the room filled with people.  The heavy, familiar scent of coffee billows from numerous steaming cups, and a sweet selection of scrumptious cheesecake is mysteriously reduced to a few scant crumbs as the night wears on.  The crowd finally settles down, with the screech and creak of chairs scooting forward, and all lean in with rapt attention... except for the few stragglers nodding off in the face of the late hour.  Along with Seforim, wellsprings of Torah wisdom, hearts and minds are opened up.  Though the hours and rays of dawn inevitably edge nearer, the passage of time seems suspended in the midst of intense preparation for the renewal and revelation to soon take place.

This is Tikkun Leil Shavuos.

Though the meaning of this fascinating custom can't truly be conveyed adequately in a few English words, it is practically understood as the "Rectification of Shavuos Night."

Shavuos is the anniversary of Matan Torah (the Giving of the Torah).  Our wedding with Hashem.  The day we became His People.  The day the gaping chasm between Heaven and Earth was spanned.  It's a significant - momentous! - day, indeed.

How high and spiritually elevated do we feel after a sleepless night?  How energetic or attractive do we appear when we're weary, tousled and dazed?  For the revival of the most important day in the history of our Nation, why on earth do we aspire to run on empty, exchanging a revitalizing period of slumber for an all-night study session?!  Even seasoned students recognize the diminishment of productivity and success their day is met with, after crunching for assignments and tests throughout the night!

Why on earth, indeed?  Perhaps it isn't earthly at all, but rather beyond earth.  Way beyond; Divine.  What perspective and energy other than Heavenly could promote such an atypical demonstration?

Throughout the ages and amidst the globe, Kabbalistic masters and Halachic authorities alike preserved a precious custom - and "Minhag Yisroel Torah Hee (the custom of Israel is Torah)" - to keep burning the light of Torah on Shavuos night, in focused learning until daybreak.  The Magen Avraham, a renowned posek of the 17th-century, was the first to offer the following Midrashic account as the basis for this tradition:

The night before the giving of the Torah, the entire Jewish People - the 'Bride' - laid down to sleep.  A bit of rest before the arrival of the fantastical occasion could only be harmless, perhaps even beneficial!  Tragically though in the morning, at the wedding canopy that was Har Sinai, the Supernal Groom - G-d Himself - lamented in anxious wait: The 'Bride' was absent, still sleeping peacefully!  Of course the extraordinary ceremony couldn't carry on under such circumstances, so the Ro'eh Neeman, the Faithful Shepherd, Moshe Rabbeinu, set out to rouse Bnei Yisroel.

To correct the sin of our ancestors' copious shut-eye heading into the day that marked the birth of our Nation, we stay up the whole night (or at the very least, until Chatzos [Halachic midnight] - find your locale and respective Zmanim [Halachic times] here!) learning Torah in preparation for the big day.

Unless you're a deeply holy individual of very lofty caliber who can remain awake against all the odds - or perhaps just an insomniac - consumption of caffeine (heavier for some than others) is a requisite.  If coffee (caffeinated or not) wreaks havoc on your system, try chocolate, or something sugary.  It works.  I think.  But that aside...

For most people, when one anticipates a serious or exciting event to come soon, sleep - at least solid sleep - is elusive.  Based on this, we could suggest the converse is also true.  Bnei Yisroel fell asleep, slept, and overslept, nearly missing their wedding!  Doesn't this seem to imply that the enthusiasm of the Jewish People was lacking - even nisht (not) - to receive the Torah?!

We're missing something.  The puzzle pieces don't merge.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe of righteous memory steps in with groundbreaking insight to clear the difficulty.

The nation slogged through the forty-ninth level of spiritual impurity; and, upon their redemption from their oppressors, committed to a forty-nine day journey of growth and transformation.  They strove and toiled to reverse and refine a negative trait each day to be positive and sanctified, so that they could receive the Divine gift of Torah wholeheartedly as Hashem's servants.  For a nation of such indomitable spirit, who invested everything they had to clear away the pollution and grime to reveal the single pristine soul inside, though a lengthy, rigorous period indeed... it simply defies all sense that they couldn't have been eager and enthralled to receive  the Torah.

Kabbalah teaches us that during our time awake, the soul is bound to the body, simply vitalizing us and inspiring our expression, in thought and speech, emotion and deed.  On the other hand (and there's always another hand), when we surrender to sleep, our souls depart and ascend on High, learning Torah with the angels, and basking in their Creator's Light.  Just before we awaken each day, it returns to us.  (For this miracle, we ring out in grateful song through the morning blessing of Modeh Ani: "Modeh Ani Lefancha... Shehechezarta Bi Nishmati... - I give thanks before You... for You have returned within me my soul.")

The Jewish People had worked on and elevated themselves to the zenith of Kedusha (holiness).  Still, they undeniably remained flesh-and-blood beings.  Their best, they felt, was unsatisfactory.  How could they isolate themselves from the sensuality of this corporeal world in a final effort to make themselves "truly spiritual," before being bound to the Torah, G-d's innermost will and wisdom?  Their solution?  Sleep: The experience of the soul severing from the body to ascend higher and higher in a peak of spiritual immersion and renewal and epiphany.

This is mind-boggling.  How could this altruism be erroneous?  How deep was the wound gouged, that we are still aspiring to make amends over three millennium later along our timeline?

Their offense was not exactly a "sin" and iniquity - an "avon" in Hebrew.  Rather, their blunder was a "cheit" - a misjudgment.  Their intentions were good, but 'off-target.' (Inspired by R' Manis Friedman in a class he gave, on understanding the nature of Adam and Eve's 'sin' - the Cheit Eitz Hada'as.)  We can ask, "Where exactly did the Jewish People go wrong?"  It's serious indeed.

They missed the entire point of Torah and its bestowal.

By rejecting rather than embracing the world's materiality, they negated the purpose of Torah, a Heavenly 'blueprint' to sanctify the physical world!  It's not just coincidence that the majority of the 613 Mitzvot are implemented in the realm of physical action and deed.  If the soul and spirituality were involved exclusively, then what why did G-d bother entrusting the Torah to earthly mortals?  I am fond of  quoting a dialogue between a wise elder Rav in the language of the Talmud with R' Aaron Moss as a young man: "G-d's commandments weren't given to angels."  Of the Torah it is said:

"It is not in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will climb to heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and let us hear it so that we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it. (Devarim 12:14)

The Torah is a very practical guide for us: it orchestrates our conquest of our animalistic lusts; our erection of gedarim (fences) to preserve order and integrity; our role as "ohr l'umim - a light to the nations," ambassadors of morality and truth in the midst of a chaotic world, where G-dliness is more concealed than ever; and our mission to reveal the holiness within our mundane existence, melding the two worlds.  However, the Torah's down-to-earth approach doesn't contradict its Divine Origin in the least.

On Shavuot, the "laws of nature" were broken: Through Torah, heaven and earth, ruchniyus and gashmiyus, G-d and people (so to speak), could be wed.  When the two polar opposites are joined in a cosmic marriage, the Ultimate Truth is revealed:  The world runs on Torah.  The world is Torah.  Torah is Hashem's wisdom and will - Him "thinking!"  And Hashem and His thoughts are One.

To quote R' Manis Friedman, we "work with the facts" - we were placed in this corporeal world to refine and elevate it - "but aim for the Truth" - to reveal the G-dliness it cloaks, and return all our world to its original Oneness, in a  revealed and palpable way.  In this world, we bind our willpower to His (and will is even loftier than wisdom, motivating us to do things that don't even seem logical to our limited minds) in the effort to "spiritualize" the physical world and make it a Dirah Betachtonim, a Dwelling Place in the Lower Realms.

Therefore, we forsake the pure spiritual retreat slumber brings , just one this one night - as our forbears mistakenly opted for - and get our hands into the gritty work with the Gashmiyus, toiling with heart, mind, hands and soul to make it shine an reveal its essence.

So staying up at all hours on this occasion, celebrating and studying the Torah?  Not so bizarre after all... In fact, it's one of the greatest recognitions and revelations of what Torah purely is.

Pass me a slice of cheesecake; we've got a long stretch ahead of us.  Let's learn!

Parshat Lech Lecha: Tied to the Prize

BS"D

Good Shabbos to all dear readers!

I dedicate this parsha post as a zechus for a refuah sheleimah for Reb Yehoshua Refael HaLevi ben Yocheved.

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Let's open up to Chamishi, the fifth Aliyah of this week's sidra of Lecha Lecha:

"Vayomer Melech S'dom el-Avram 'ten-li hanefesh v'har'chush kach-lach.'  Vayomer Avram el-Melech S'dom 'harmosi yadi el-Hashem Keil Elyon Konei shamayim va'aretz.  Im-michut v'ad s'roch na'al v'im ekach mikal asher lach v'lo tomar 'ani he'esharti et-Avram'.' -- The King of S'dom said to Avram 'Give me the people, and take the spoils for yourself.'  Avram said to the King of S'dom 'I have lifted my hand to G-d the Most High Almighty, Possessor of heaven and earth.  Neither a thread nor a shoelace; I will not take anything of yours, so you will not be able to say 'I made Avram wealthy'.'"  {Bereishis 14:21-23}

Perhaps a little bit of a back-story will be of assistance.  For twelve years, a group of five kings, including the royalty of Sodom and Gomorra, served a certain King Kederlaomer.  In the thirteenth year of their service, they decided they had had enough, and asserted themselves in rebellion against the king who held mastery over them.  Kederlaomer  entered into an alliance with three other powerful kings, and war was waged.  The lesser team of four overcame the band of five, who fled in terror to the mountains, leaving behind their wealth, which was of course usurped by their opponents, and their subjects, who were taken captive.  However...  the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah never made it to the mountains; but rather, in their flight, they became entrapped in the deadly mortar pits which abounded the land.  As the battle raged, one of its survivors (according to Midrash, as brought down by Rashi, this was the giant Og who survived the Mabul) came to Avraham and relayed an unfortunate message:  Avraham's nephew and kinsman Lot, who had claimed land and established his camps and flocks near S'dom, had been taken captive along with the rest of the conquered city.  With the greatest brotherly love, Avraham quickly shifted into action with a legion of 318 trained men (but Chazal maintain just his servant Eliezer, who possessed tremendous strength, and whose name has the gematria of 318!), set off in pursuit against the enemy-- Kederlaomer and his allies, who sacked his nephew's home, and the dwelling of so many others.  Avraham succeeded, aided by the miracles and grace of G-d, and passed with flying colors.  On his mission, he also rescued the King of S'dom, who miraculously survived the mortar pits and reunited him with his kingdom.  After these events, all of the battle-weary gathered in Eimek Hamelech (the King's Valley), and were met with sustenance of bread and wine.   Furthermore, in accordance with the Midrash's understanding, all the masses present unanimously declared Avraham a prince of Hashem and noble leader.  After being blessed by Malki-Tzedek (who was in fact Sheim ben Noach), the Kohein, the King of S'dom made the above proposal as given over in the verses.

The king only requested of Avraham to return his people to him, but he was welcome to the reward of the spoils of war.  This appears to be quite friendly and generous, so we may initially be surprised when recounting our forefather's vehement refusal.

But perhaps we shouldn't be. 

Avraham perceived a danger here.  If he was to accept the wealth that the king offered to him as a gift, the king could grow an inclination to boast that 'It was I who made Avram wealthy.'  This could ultimately lead to a Chillul Hashem, a desecration of G-d Name.  To counter any possibility of this coming to pass, Avraham declared "Harimosi yadi el Hashem Keil Elyon - I lift my hand to Hashem, the Most High Almighty"; and this, Rashi says "Lashon shevua - This is an expression of an oath."  What was Avraham Avinu vowing over?  He clarifies and emphasizes: "Konei shamayim va'aretz - Possessor of heaven and earth!"  He publicly attested that the heavens and earth were all in Hashem's ownership, so certainly even something as small as a thread or shoelace was as well.  For what could man give him that would mean anything or be of any value, when Hashem Himself, Ribbono Shel Olam and Makor (Source) of All promised him wealth, saying "V'avarech'cha - And I will bless you" (according to Rashi, this clause of the blessing refers specifically to material wealth).  And of course, who but G-d can also bless with spiritual abundance?!

Avraham desired to make it clear to the world that it is only G-d who can give blessing, and only from Him does all wealth and benefit come.  He sought to shatter any illusion that man had any real power to enrich, for this, too, is totally in G-d's hands.  As I type this, I think about a pasuk in the Gemara (Eruvin) that says:  "Omeres yonah lifnei Hakadosh Baruch Hu:  Ribono Shel Olam, yihyu mezonosai m'rurim kazayis Beyadecha v'al yihyu m'tukim kid'vash al yedei basar vadam -- The dove requested of the Holy One, Blessed be He:  Master of the Universe, may my food be as bitter as an olive, but dependent upon You, rather than sweet as honey but dependent upon flesh and blood."  He avoided becoming entrapped, indebted to a mortal king and tied to material abundance.  If only more of our world and society today the same strength and understanding. 

Too often do people become work-addicts, enslaved to their jobs in a draining and self-harmful frenzy to make a couple more bucks...  They tragically forget that regardless of how many hours they crunch, it is ultimately up to Hashem how much is a success at the end of the day.  Of course we must invest responsibility and effort-- "man was made to toil!"-- but Hashem is our partner in all business, and He holds sway over any projects, determining whether or not they will succeed and fruit.  Too often it happens, that people idolize objects and physicality with worshipping language and obsessions.  A person in that case becomes distracted, misled off a good path, and neglects making the most of their time and life.  Desensitized to something deeper and more real, their sights are limited in a tunnel-vision.  It becomes impossible for them to focus in the right way on growing themselves as people, bettering the world around them, and focusing on long-term goals and less transient pleasures.  A wonderful anonymous quote reflecting this thought:  "People were created to be loved.  Objects were created to be used.  The reason the world is in chaos is because objects are being loved and people are being used."  Only when material blessings and fortune are used in accordance with what they were created for, can they really bring long lasting joy and connection with G-d, with others, and even with yourself. 

Also keep in mind the teaching, that G-d abundantly blesses one who doesn't pursue.  Avraham didn't covet wealth, and in fact humbly shunned it even from a king whose life he saved!  But Hashem assured him great wealth.  Shaul, the first king of Israel, hid when he was to be crowned, out of his tremendous humility.  Hashem then caused him to be showered with great honors and celebration.  King Shlomo requested only wisdom from Hashem, to lead his people in the proper way.  Wisdom, but not wealth.  Wisdom, but not long life, and so forth.  And Hashem rewarded him with all of the precious blessings.

Have faith, and know that your are protected and sustained in all your ways by Hashem.  Acknowledge that all blessing comes from Him, and Him alone, even when sent through a messenger.  And you will have made a few of the most vital steps on your path to knowing G-d.