Category: Shavuot

Shavuot 5785 Mattan Torah

“And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of a horn exceeding loud; and all the people that were in the camp trembled. ” – Exodus 19:16, JPS 1917 Tanach

At Mount Sinai, the people in the camp trembled at the awesome display of HaShem’s Presence, amidst the thunder and lightning. The people’s sense of yiras HaShem (fear, awe, and reverence towards the L-RD) was elicited by the spectacular display, when the Commandments were given to B’nei Yisrael through Moshe (Moses). This may serve as an example for us, when we gather ourselves together, in order to receive the Torah anew in our lives on the day of Shavuot. The thunder and lightning that humbled the people at Sinai, demonstrates the importance of yiras HSahem for our own lives. “The fear of HaShem is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10).

When we seek to develop awe, reverence, and proper respect towards HaShem, we are planting a foundation within us that will bring wisdom and understanding into our lives (see also Proverbs 9:10). G-d seeks to bring our heart into alignment with His ways, by compelling us to seek teshuvah, that we may start anew. The powerful reminder of thunder is a natural occurrence that should serve as a wake-up call. According to the Talmud, thunder was created for this very purpose (Berachos 59a).  “G-d hath so made it, that men should fear before Him” (Ec. 3:14, JPS).

Awe, reverence and respect toward G-d is key. Too often we do not properly demonstrate our respect toward G-d; rather, for example, we act casually toward Him in services by chatting with others, instead of focusing on the words in the prayerbooks. And, in our own lives, the implementation of the commandments is overlooked for following in our own ways, as if we were free and independent, when we are really called to serve G-d and become dependent upon Him. So, let us seek renewal in our lives on this day of the giving of the Torah, honoring HaShem as our sovereign G-d.

©2025 Tzvi Fievel all rights reserved

Shavuot 5784 Mattan Torah

“And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of a horn exceeding loud; and all the people that were in the camp trembled. ” – Exodus 19:16, JPS 1917 Tanach

At Mount Sinai, the people in the camp trembled at the awesome display of H’Shem’s Presence, amidst the thunder and lightning. The people’s sense of yiras H’Shem (fear, awe, and reverence towards the L-RD) was elicited by the spectacular display, when the Commandments were given to B’nei Yisrael through Moshe (Moses). This may serve as an example for us, when we gather ourselves together, in order to receive the Torah anew in our lives on the day of Shavuot. The thunder and lightening that humbled the people at Sinai, demonstrates the importance of yiras H’Shem for our own lives. “The fear of H’Shem is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10).

When we seek to develop awe, reverence, and proper respect towards H’Shem, we are planting a foundation within us that will bring wisdom and understanding into our lives (see also Proverbs 9:10). G-d seeks to bring our heart into alignment with His ways, by compelling us to seek teshuvah, that we may start anew. The powerful reminder of thunder is a natural occurrence that should serve as a wake-up call. According to the Talmud, thunder was created for this very purpose (Berachos 59a).  “G-d hath so made it, that men should fear before Him” (Ec. 3:14, JPS).

On Shavuot, we stand once again, ready to leave our personal Mitzraim behind us, as we renew our commitment to keep the Covenant made at Mt. Sinai with B’nei Yisrael. We may also seek the realization of G-d’s promise, “I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel.” As is written, “I will put My law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their G-d, and they shall be My people” (Jeremiah 31:31, 33, JPS 1917 Tanach).

Shavuot 5783 Mattan Torah

“And it came to pass on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of a horn exceeding loud; and all the people that were in the camp trembled. ” – Exodus 19:16, JPS 1917 Tanach

At Mount Sinai, the people in the camp trembled at the awesome display of H’Shem’s Presence, amidst the thunder and lightning. The people’s sense of yiras H’Shem (fear, awe, and reverence towards the L-RD) was elicited by the spectacular display, when the Commandments were given to B’nei Yisrael through Moshe (Moses). This may serve as an example for us, when we gather ourselves together, in order to receive the Torah anew in our lives on the day of Shavuot. The thunder and lightening that humbled the people at Sinai, demonstrates the importance of yiras H’Shem for our own lives. “The fear of H’Shem is the beginning of wisdom” (Psalm 111:10).

When we seek to develop awe, reverence, and proper respect towards H’Shem, we are planting a foundation within us that will bring wisdom and understanding into our lives (see also Proverbs 9:10). G-d seeks to bring our heart into alignment with His ways, by compelling us to seek teshuvah, that we may start anew. The powerful reminder of thunder is a natural occurrence that should serve as a wake-up call. According to the Talmud, thunder was created for this very purpose (Berachos 59a).  “G-d hath so made it, that men should fear before Him” (Ec. 3:14, JPS).

On Shavuot, we stand once again, ready to leave our personal Mitzraim behind us, as we renew our commitment to keep the Covenant made at Mt. Sinai with B’nei Yisrael. We may also seek the realization of G-d’s promise, “I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel.” As is written, “I will put My law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their G-d, and they shall be My people” (Jeremiah 31:31, 33, JPS 1917 Tanach).

Shavuot 5783 Renewal

Let us stand at Sinai, figuratively speaking, to receive the commandments anew. Further consider that when Moshe entered “the thick cloud” (Exodus 19:9) on Sinai, he was called even further, he “drew near unto the thick darkness where G-d was” (Exodus 20:18, JPS 1917 Tanach). This serves as an example for us, in our quest to grow closer to G-d. He is found within the darkness of our lives, concealed within the hardships, trials and tribulations.

We may ask ourselves, when will the clouds part, and the light begin to shine in our lives? Perhaps, there will be a parting of the clouds, when we learn how to transform the challenges in our lives, by using them as opportunities to seek G-d, so that His presence, may comfort us during our nisyanos (troubles). On Shavuot, let us be strengthened by G-d’s presence, so that we may enter back into our lives, renewed with godly strength and vigor, as a result of our own personal Sinai experience.