Shabbat Gathering: Shavuot and Ruth and choosing Judaism.

Gud Shabbos Khaveyrim, as is our custom, we will gather tonight at 5.45p ct to welcome Shabbat. These are the coordinates:

Zoom
Meeting ID: 883 8469 4181
Password: 822665
Phone: +1 312 626 6799

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Here we go.

Shavuot is one of my favorite holy days for two reasons. First, it is the day when Hashem gave us Torah. Second, the book of Ruth is closely associated with Shavuot and that book has special meaning to me… and maybe some of you.

Shavuot started out as a harvest festival. We have just finished counting the Omer (which started on the second day of Passover) and, at the end of the seven week Omer period, we celebrate Shavuout. Long ago, we would bring offerings to the temple. But since we started observing Shavuout, it has become freighted with additional meaning. According to our tradition, the Jewish people were given Torah at Sinai on Shavuout. Also, Shavuout is the date we observe the anniversary of the death, the yarhtzeit, of King David and the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of the Chasidus movement. —That’s an awful lot to pack into one holy day.

But about the book of Ruth…

The book of Ruth is from the writings of the Bible, scrolls we read on special occasions. (Think Esther and Purim.) In the story, Ruth is the daughter-in-law of Naomi. Ruth and Naomi are both widows and Naomi sets out to Bethlehem so she can be reunited with her kin. Ruth, a Moabite, decides to accompany Naomi to support her. Naomi tries to discourage Ruth and tells Ruth she is released from her family obligations. And Ruth famously tells Naomi, ““whither you go, I will go, wherever you lodge, I will lodge, your people will be my people, and your God will be my God.” Ruth converts to Judaism.

I’ve read commentary that Ruth’s conversion parallels the conversion of the Israelite people to Judaism when Hashem gave Torah to Moses. The commentator puts forward the idea that the Jewish people are converts from whatever they used to believe in to believing in Torah.

As a Jew-by-choice, I’m not sure we get enough credit for what we bring to Judaism. Ruth became the great-grandmother of King David. That’s a pretty big contribution. But perhaps her most important contribution to Judaism is the loyalty she shows to Naomi and the willingness Ruth shows to find a new and better way in life. Many of us have made the same decision to find a better way of life in Judaism. Who knows what will come from our decision to chose Judaism. I can’t wait to find out.

And may it be for all of us a blessing.

See you tonight!
Mit vareme grusn,
(With warm regards,)

All my love,
brian.

PS

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