Which Jewish holiday is less than a week but is called Weeks?
Shavuot!
Why is tomorrow’s festival called weeks if it’s only a two-day festival (and one day in Israel)? Sukkot and Pesach are week-long festivals. Yet, it is specifically Shavuot that is called (not a Week, but) Weeks!
The common answer is that the holiday is observed seven weeks after Passover, just as the Jews received the Torah seven weeks after the Exodus from Egypt.
But, isn’t it strange the name a holiday for the time before the holiday begins?
The secret lies in the rituals associated with the holiday. Or, rather, the lack of rituals.
Pesach has matzah. Sukkot has the Four Kinds and the Sukkah. Rosh Hashanah has the Shofar.
But, Shavuot has nothing. There are no ritual requirements on this holiday that differentiate it from a standard Shabbat or festival. Yes, we read the Torah and add prayers. We make Kiddush and eat meals. But, there are no unique mandates. (Eating dairy is a custom, but not a fundamental requirement of the festival). This seems like the weakest holiday on the block!
This year, Shavuot will mark the 3338th anniversary of the giving of the Torah. That was a watershed moment in history. It changed the world forever.
So, why aren’t there any rituals connected with it?
A Chassidic saying might help us understand Shavuot. Chassidim wish each other at Shavuot, “May you (re-)accept the Torah with joy and internalization.”
What does it mean to receive the Torah internally?
One explanation is that studying and observing the Torah with overt symbols and rituals has many advantages. One disadvantage, however, is that external stimulants can mistakenly act as distractions to internal change. When we are forced to look inward for meaning, change is lasting.
Shavuot is the unsung holiday because it is the anniversary of the Giving of the Torah. For us to appreciate that gift and allow it to influence our lives on a daily basis, we need to internalize its messages. It’s not enough to celebrate the highs of Sounding the Shofar or eating matzah. The Torah needs to become our go-to resource and guide for everyday living. Otherwise, my Jewish life and my ordinary life are disconnected.
When we internalize the Torah, the infusion of devotion and motivation imbues all aspects of my life. And, it’s here to stay. In fact, it will outlive today.
With Torah as our inspiration, days can – and will – indeed become weeks.
This Shavuot, let’s gather together and relive the giving of the Torah. Let’s listen to the story of Revelation at Sinai and the Ten Commandments in synagogue. And, let’s let it seep into our psyche.
This two-day holiday can indeed rightfully claim its title as the Festival of Weeks.