It was a day or two after Shavuot during the lifetime of the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak. He was approached by an aide with a question concerning the administrative affairs of the Chabad movement that he led. The Previous Rebbe replied, “I have not yet descended from Mt. Sinai; I cannot deal with this issue right now.”
Most of us didn’t necessarily feel like we climbed Mt. Sinai to begin with over Shavuot; and we certainly don’t feel like we are still “up there” now that the holiday has ended. Yet, the story can give us some things to contemplate as we transition from the holiday to “everyday life.”
Do we sufficiently appreciate the greatest contract that was ever made between Al-mighty G-d and humanity?
Do we sufficiently appreciate having been addressed directly and individually by G-d, Who declared Anochi, I am the L-rd your (individual) G-d?
Do we sufficiently appreciate that the term Anochi implies that Hashem inscribed himself into the Torah, and by learning we can connect directly to Him?
Do we sufficiently appreciate the empowerment with which the Torah imbues us vis-à-vis our impact on our universe?
Do we sufficiently appreciate the power of a Mitzvah post Sinai, and the connectivity that it affords us with Hashem?
Do we sufficiently appreciate the moral clarity offered by the Torah, the word of the Creator?
Do we sufficiently appreciate the sheer breadth of wisdom contained within the Torah, from Scripture to Talmud, Midrash, Kabbala, Legal Codes, Ethics and Philosophy, Chassidic thought, all accessible to us if we just commit the time to study?
Do we sufficiently appreciate this most wonderful gift that Hashem gave us on Shavuot, and continues to give us each and every day?
Maybe just thinking about these ideas can propel us back up that mountain for a moment. As we make our way down and look towards the horizon of life, we walk with an uplifted heart, a lighter step, and resoluteness of purpose knowing that tools for success are securely in our hands.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Mendel Rivkin