[Par-reg] Shavuot - questions for self study

Mon May 25 17:02:56 EDT 2009

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     THE TANACH STUDY CENTER [http://www.tanach.org]
          In Memory of Rabbi Abraham Leibtag
     Shiurim in Chumash & Navi by Menachem Leibtag
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        Questions for self study for tikun leil SHAVUOT
          re: topic of Shavuot & Matan Torah

INTRODUCTION
  Even though we all know that the holiday of Shavuot
commemorates the events of Matan Torah, for some reason,
in
the Torah's presentation of Shavuot we find no mention of
that
event! The following questions deal with this topic; and
can
provide a framework for study on "leil Shavuot".]
  However, before we begin the battery of questions, we
will
provide a little 'agricultural' background concerning
'nature'
and the yearly agricultural cycle in the land of Israel.
  The wheat crop, which is planted in the winter, usually
begins to ripen (and hence it becomes ready for
harvesting) in
late April or early May. The harvest season itself usually
lasts about five to six weeks, i.e. until mid-June. Hence,
late May (or early June) is the time of year in Eretz
Yisrael
when the grain harvest nears completion.

THE BIBLICAL SOURCES
1. Carefully review the following sources, as they include
every mention of Shavuot in the Torah:
  As you study each of these sources, make note of the:
  * NAME that the Torah calls this holiday;
  * DATE (or time of year) of Shavuot;
  * REASON for celebrating Shavuot;
  * MITZVAH that we are commanded to observe.
    When you do find a mitzvah, note if this mitzvah is
    unique to Shavuot, and if so, explain why.

  A. Shmot 23:14-17 / 34:22-24;
  B. Vayikra 23:15-21;
  C. Bamidbar 28:26;
  D. Devarim 16:9-12.

2.  Can you explain why the Torah never specifies the
exact
(lunar) date on which we must celebrate Shavuot, as it
does
for all the other holidays in Parshat Emor and Pinchas?
  [In your answer, relate to "kidush ha'chodesh" by
bet-din.]

3. In any of these above sources, does the Torah mention
any
connection between Shavuot and Matan Torah?
  If so, where?
  If not, can you explain why there is no mention?

4. In your opinion, does the agricultural reason that the
Torah does provide for celebrating Shavuot provide
sufficient
reason for celebrating this holiday every year?  If so,
what
in your opinion the agricultural reason for why God
commands
Bnei Yisrael to celebrate Shavuot?
  Attempt to explain why this harvest would require a
holiday
of thanksgiving to God? Relate to the importance of the
wheat
harvest in regard to the food that will be eaten for the
entire year; and how many chances a year there are to reap
a
wheat harvest.
  [Note Shmot 23:13, and how it relates to 23:14-17!]

WHEN DID MATAN TORAH TAKE PLACE?
1. Carefully review Shmot chapter 19 (without Rashi!), and
attempt to determine if Chumash ever mentions the precise
day
on which Matan Torah took place.
  If not, does the Torah provide us with enough
information to
allow us to make a rough estimate? [Be sure to relate to
Shmot
19:1-2.]
  What can be inferred from Shmot 24:15-16 in regard to
the
amount of time which elapses at Ma'amad Har Sinai?
  [Note Rashi (and the other commentators) concerning when
in
  Sivan those 'seven' days transpired.]

2.  Review the dates of the various holidays as they are
described in Vayikra chapter 23, noting that each lunar
date
seems to have a very logical reason, with the exception of
Yom
Kippur - which falls out on the tenth of Tishrei.  [Note
that
the first day of the month is a 'logical date' to mark a
celebration, as is the 15th - when there is a full moon,
and
ample lighting in the evening.]
  In your opinion, is there any logical reason for why the
Torah chose the 10th of Tishrei for Yom Kippur?  In your
answer, relate to the three sets of forty days at Har
Sinai,
as discussed in Devarim 9:9,18,25 & 10:10; as well as to
the
forty days described in Shmot 24:14-16.
  Note as well a thematic connection between those events
and
Yom Kippur based on Shmot 32:30-32!
  Using those three sets of forty days, and working
'backwards' - attempt to determine a more precise 'lunar
date'
for when Matan Torah took place!

BIBLICAL DATING & COMMEMORATION
3. Does the Torah tell us the precise date of when Bnei
Yisrael left Egypt? Is that date commemorated? [Note Shmot
13:2-8.]
How many specific mitzvot can you recall from the Torah
that
commemorate Yetziat Mitzraim?
  In contrast, how many specific mitzvot can you recall
that
commemorate Matan Torah?
  In this regard, how and why would you say that the Torah
relates to the event of Matan Torah in a different manner
that
to Yetziat Mitzrayim?
  Can you suggest a reason why these events are so
different?
    [See Rashi Shmot 19:1! Relate this to the Midrash
of"ben
    Zomah" in the Haggadah of Pesach concerning our daily
    obligation to 'remember' the events of Yetziat
Mitzraim.]

4. Review Devarim 4:9-15, noting how these psukim describe
the
events that transpired at Ma'amad Har Sinai.  According to
these psukim (in their context), does there appear to be a
mitzvah to 'remember' the events of Matan Torah? If so, on
what day are we to remember those events; or does it
appear
that our obligation is to remember those events on every
day?
  [See Ramban on 4:9 and his opinion that this pasuk
should be
  considered a MITZVAH. See also Ramban in his "hasagot"
to
  the sefer ha'mitzvot of the Rambam - Lo'Taaseh - hasaga
  #2!.]

5. In the Torah's presentation of the other two "shalosh
regalim" (i.e. chag ha'matzot and chag ha'succot), we do
find
the mention of a certain historical aspect (see Shmot
13:3-7,
Vayikra 23:43) in addition to their agricultural
perspective.
In what manner is Shavuot different? [Is its historical
aspect
ever mentioned?]
Can you suggest a reason why (or why not)?

6. Carefully review Vayikra 23:10-19. Note the connection
between the korban haOMER and the korban SHTEI ha'LECHEM.
Study the details of the special korban that must be
offered
together with the "shtei ha'lechem" (see 23:17-19), noting
especially the centrality of the "korban shlamim" that
must be
'waved' ["tenufah"] with the SHTEI ha'LECHEM.
  Is there any other holiday (or any other time during the
year) when the "tzibur" offers a korban SHLAMIM?
  [Don't spend too much time looking, the answer is NO!]
  Why should this point be significant?

7. Note as well in those psukim (see 23:17) that the SHTEI
ha'LECHEM are to be baked "chametz", as opposed to every
other
type of flour offering in the Mikdash, which must be
"matzah".
[See Vayikra 1:11!]
  Would you say that this is significant? If so, how?
  Does this suggest a thematic connection to chag
ha'matzot"?
  In general, how do the special agricultural mitzvot of
the
"shalosh regalim" relate to the nature of the historical
events which they commemorate?

8. In case you forgot, the very first time in Chumash
where we
find that Bnei Yisrael collectively offer a korban SHLAMIM
is
at Har Sinai. Review Shmot 24:4-8, noting how those
offerings
were part of the very same ceremony when Bnei Yisrael
declared
"na'aseh v'nishmah"!
  Can you relate this event to the special korban SHLAMIM
that
is offered on Shavuot with the SHTEI ha'LECHEM?

9. Review Vayikra 9:1-5, noting how Bnei Yisrael were
instructed to offer a korban SHLAMIM - at the dedication
ceremony of the Mishkan on "yom ha'Shmini" - most probably
to
mark the return of the SHCHINA to the camp of Bnei
Yisrael.
  Can you relate this special korban to the korbanot
described
in Shmot 24:4-6 at "brit na'asseh v'nishma"?
  How does the dedication of the Mishkan relate to Matan
Torah? (See previous shiurim on Parshiot Terumah &
Tezaveh.)

10. Note as well that the other special korbanot brought
on
"Yom Ha'Shmini" (the seir l'chatat of the Am and "par
chatat"
of Aharon etc.) find a parallel in the "korban tzibur"
offered
on Yom Kippur (see Vayikra 16:1-5, compare with 9:1-5).
Relate
this to the connection between Matan Torah and Yom Kippur
(the
day Moshe descended Har Sinai with the second luchot!).
  Use this parallel to explain how the two aspects of the
"yom
ha'shmini" ("korban chatat" - as atonement for chet
ha'egel,
and "korban shlamim" for re-creating Ma'amad Har Sinai),
relate to our annual celebration of both Yom Kippur and
Shavuot!

11. Relate the primary points raised by the above
questions to
explain our custom to commemorate Matan Torah on Shavuot!

         b'hatzlacha,
         menachem

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