A Project of
www.shabbattable.com
A pupil notices his rabbi cut his nails every Friday afternoon after immersing in the ritual bath (mikva).
Naturally, he is curious as to why his master consistently does this at the same time every week, so he asks the rabbi for an explanation.
The rabbi replies, "If you truly want to know, you must first fast for 30 days, with only a small meal each evening."
After 30 days of fasting, suffering and endurance, the student comes back to receive his hard earned explanation.
"Why? Replies the master, because the nails are softest after taking a bath…"
***
You've been counting down the days. Day by day you impatiently counted "18 days which are two weeks and four days…." And the countdown is on, as we are now up to"43 days...".
With less than a week to go, you can feel your heart beating with anticipation. "It's coming closer..." you scream, busting the eardrums of all those were unfortunate to be in your path.
Finally one fella is curious enough to ask you, "Yo sonny, what is coming closer?"
You are shocked into silence by the ignorance of this guy, 'How is it possible that there is someone who doesn't know of the upcoming big event?'
"What? You say. You don't know about the upcoming holiday of Shavuot?"
"Why, what about it?"
"How can a Jew not know about the cheesecake holiday?"
"Excuse me, did I hear ya correctly, you've been counting down all this time for some cheesecake? Hey listen dude, I'll give ya a dollar and go buy ya-self a piece of cheesecake. Boy! This sounds like waiting the whole week for Shabbat to arrive, so that you can have some cholent!"
"How'd you guess? That's exactly how it is..."
"Listen buddy there's got to be something bigger and better about this Shavuot holiday, that you've been waiting for... Why don't you go out there and check out for the true reason behind the countdown..."
Suddenly it hit you.
"How did I forget? I'm counting down to the giving of the Torah and every day I'm elevating and purifying myself to be able to receive it!
"And there's more to it, we're about to renew our wedding vows with G-d taken 3,320 years ago!"
"Okay okay, there you go with your shouting again…"
"One last thing, I would like to wish you and yours a happy and healthy holiday! May we receive the torah with joy, and internalize its message."
"And my blessings to you buddy, is that you should get a bit of clarity…"
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