To Embrace the Eternal

Most Important Holiday

Reasonable people will argue as to which is the most important Jewish Festival. Some will say, what difference does it really make?

Chassidic literature claims that when it is Passover, Passover is the most important Holiday; during Sukkot, Sukkot is the most important Holiday. Since we are approaching the Festival of Shavuos, the anniversary of the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, we will argue for the pre-eminence of Shavuos over all other Holidays.

Indeed, the Zohar states that Shavuos is the “highest” of all Holidays. Thus, it is situated in between Passover and Sukkot. Its central position is indicative of its role as the core of all other aspects of Judaism. This unique quality of Shavuos is also reflected in the fact that Shavuos is only one day (In Israel) whereas Passover and Sukkot are seven or eight day Holidays. The one day of Shavuos is expressive of the concept of unity and singularity.

Torah: The Source of Inspiration for All Mitzvos

We must attempt to understand what it is about Shavuos that makes it so singularly important.

Even a cursory examination of the subject leads us to the conclusion that it is Torah that makes Shavuos so special, because Torah itself enjoys a special status even in comparison to other commandments as our Sages declare: “And Torah study is equivalent to all of them.”

Thus, when we come to grips with the importance and pre-eminence of Torah, we will also better appreciate the uniqueness of the Festival of Shavuos.

The 613 commandments are said to correspond to all the components of the human body. Each limb has a Mitzvah that is geared to it and is intended to make it holy. Torah study is said to correspond to the brain. Just as the brain is the most important organ of the human being and is the source of life for all the other parts of a person, similarly, Torah study is considered to be the most important Mitzvah and is the source and inspiration for all the others.

The Three Levels of Torah Study

When a Jew studies Torah, s/he can do so for a number of legitimate reasons. One can study Torah in order to know how to live as a Jew. In this capacity, Torah study is a means to an end, albeit a very noble end — the observance of the Mitzvos. This is analogous to the role of the brain as the source of life for the rest of the body.

On a higher level, one can study Torah “for its own sake.” This means that one studies Torah because one senses that it is intrinsically a higher Mitzvah than all the others, This is analogous to the status of the brain as the most vital organ of the body.

Torah in this frame of reference is the most important Mitzvah; it is in a class by itself.

There is, however, a third and even more exalted reason for Torah study. This is the study of Torah because it is G-d’s wisdom.

In this mode, Torah transcends the very concept of a Mitzvah.

A Jew’s approach to Torah study has thus been likened to a child who has not seen his father for a long time. When the child is finally reunited with his father, he embraces his parent and kisses him profusely. His embrace and expression of love for his father is not in any way connected to any benefit he may derive from his father. It is not even his way of fulfilling his filial obligation. It is pure unadulterated and unconditional love for his father.

Similarly, the ultimate motivation of a Jew to learn Torah is not the benefit that he derives from it, including the ability to perform the Mitzvos. It is not even for the ability to perform the exalted Mitzvah of learning Torah.

The real motivation should come from the tremendous love one has for G-d. Every time we learn Torah, we are “embracing” G-d Himself. There can be no greater and more rewarding experience.

Torah Study in the Messianic Age

To be sure, we are not all ready to learn Torah on this lofty level. To experience this pure love we must have the feeling of love for G-d as a child loves his father.

In the Messianic Age, we will all experience this third and highest level of Torah whenever we study. We can, however, get a glimpse and taste of all these levels, during the Festival of Shavuos when we connect with Torah in its purest, most lofty form.

Question Disappears

Now, to return to our original question. Which of the Holidays is the most important?

In light of the above discussion, there is no need to search for an answer to this question. It is quite clear that unmitigated love and unadulterated study of Divine wisdom cannot be surpassed.

Instead, let us expend our energies to internalize the ideal of Shavuos — the ideals of Torah, through which we connect with the core of Judaism.

And may you all have a joyous and inspirational Shavuos Holiday.

From the book Light from the Future: Shavuos by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.