Words From Rabbi White

The famous story of Moshe and the burning bush took place (according to Shemot, chapter 3,) at the “mountain of God, at Horev.”  According to tradition, Horev was another name for Mt. Sinai.

At first, Moshe did not want to accept God’s offer to be the one to take the people out of Egypt.

So, HaShem gives Moshe a sign:  “when you take the nation out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain:” i.e., at Horev = Sinai.

What does this have to do with Shavuot?  Rabbenu Nissim Gerondi of Barcelona was a leading 14th century talmudist. His commentary on Alfasi’s commentary on the Talmud is printed at the back of the Talmudic tractates, and is an important source of early traditions and interpretations.

In his commentary on Tractate Pesahim, Rabbenu Nissim brought the following midrash: when Moshe went to speak to the people, he repeated God’s words:  “you will worship God on this mountain. ” And the people said to him:  “Moshe, when will this be?” And he answered : “in 50 days."  And so they all started counting, each one to himself. Another source elaborates: because of their great love of the Torah that they would receive.  And so they counted:  "1 day has passed, 2 days have passed, etc."  And they were waiting and hiping to receive the Torah.

And that is why, according to Rabbenu Nissim, even nowadays when we do not have the Temple, the rabbis ordained that we should count 50 days from Passover, in anticipation of the Torah. That is why we do sefirat ha`omer, even though we don't have an 'omer offering. [For each year, Shavuot is a Simcha, a joy of Torah, as we renew our commitment to study Torah and to do mitsvot.

Shabbat shalom, and Chag sameah