Taste It

Shavuos is called "Zman Matan Toraseinu" the time of the giving of the Torah. Why isn't it called the time of the receiving of the Torah?

EVERY DAY we receive the Torah. The question is - How do we receive it? With a renewed thirst? Torah, say Chazal [based on the pasuk at Mattan Torah  ויהי ככלתו - from the word Kalla], should be as exciting as one's Kallah. If it isn't - then one isn't learning right. A boy who is a yarei shomayim is very careful for long, difficult years to control his strongest and most natural impulses. Comes his wedding night and NOW IS THE TIME! FINALLY!! Baruch Hu Uvaruch Shemo!!! There is singing, dancing, food, and a seventeen piece band. He is beyond excited [it helps that he doesn't know what his kalla is really like. Imagination plays a major role here. Imagination gets us under the chuppah. Thank G-d for imagination]. He looks at his Kallah. His euphoria is palpable. [She thinks he's OK too:)].

Torah should be NO LESS EXCITING! How exciting it is will depend on our preparation and appreciation of its value. Every day is a new chance to feel the same excitement. If you haven't then you have something to strive for.

Shabbos could be called the "Day Of Light" because it is FILLED with Divine light. But it isn't called Yom Ha-Oros because how much of its light we absorb will depend on the nature of our "shvisa". How Shabbos-dik is our Shabbos? What do we talk about at the table? What type of minyan do we daven in? What are we thinking about on Shabbos? What do we learn and how much?

I know people, many people, who would define themselves as "Shomrei Shabbos" but have never really experienced Shabbos in their lives. How sad it is that people never taste it. טעמו וראו כי טוב השם we say every Shabbos morning. TASTE and see how good Hashem is. He is most accessible on Shabbos...

[See Shem Mi-shmuel Terumah תרע"ז]