Peaks and valleys.
Real life— ups and downs..
Some of it can be controlled but oftentimes it can’t. Then there’s what do we do at the peak moment or in the valley for that matter…
Recently I saw footage from on top of Mount Everest of a group of climbers holding a sign that included the names of the victims of October 7th. Right there on top of the mountain — they said Kaddish.
Standing on top of Everest is a “peak” to say the least. Thinking of others at the peak, is an even higher peak.
Next week we celebrate Shavuot — the Festival when we received the Torah 3337 years ago. The location is Mount Sinai — the lowest of all mountains — clearly not the highest peak and as we are speaking of Gd’s choice — clearly the highest peak wasn’t the criteria.
Perhaps in reading the Torah’s narrative we glean some insight. “And G-d descended on Mt Sinai”. You see, mortals ascend journeying onwards and upwards — “Gd in turn descends” to meet us in our attempt —assisting us to reach an otherwise unattainable peak.
Sure the Torah could have been given on Everest or maybe an even higher mountain could have been produced, but then what?
The event was never about Gd, it was about us. It was about the relationship and mission entrusted to the Jewish nation that would and does require thoughtfulness, study and an effort to put our best foot forward with an eye to “ascending” triggering the chain reaction of Gd descending.
At the end of the day, it’s not about the location, it’s not about the peak or the valley — that’s merely the setting rather it’s about what we do and how we act when we are at the peak or in the valley, the rest Gd does!
With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Yehuda & Dina Kantor
P.S. To take it out of the abstract — here are 2 real life opportunities to re-enact the receiving of the Torah. TORAH dedication ceremony June 1 — JOY- ISRAEL — FEAST and of course CONTINUITY— RSVP here.
Monday — Full on Shavuot dairy dinner buffet for the whole family — and an ice cream party for the kids HERE.