From the Rabbi:
There is an oft overlooked holiday coming up this Shabbat called Yom HaMeyuchas, “The Day of Distinction.” What is this day and what can we learn from it?
Yom HaMeyuchas takes place on the second of Sivan, the day after Rosh Chodesh and the day before the Shloshet Yemei Hagbala, (Lit. three days of boundary) the three days of preparation for receiving the Torah leading up to Shavuot.
Since the second of Sivan is sandwiched between all of these important days (Rosh Chodesh and these 3 days of Hagbala), the rabbis didn’t want to leave this one day out. In order to make this day feel special as well, they gave it a special name.
Just as the rabbis were concerned about not hurting the "feelings" of a calendar date, not wanting to leave the second of Sivan out, how much more so should we be concerned about not alienating our fellow Jews.
Yom HaMeyuchas is also significant because it is associated with the day when the nation answered as one (Rashi - as one person with one heart) (Shmot 19:8) “Whatever God told us we will do.” The nation was united and they were willing to take on the commandments. For those reasons alone, we deserve an extra holiday! Shavuot being the day God gave us the Torah, the Day of Distinction is the day we, as one, chose to accept the Torah.
When we hear the word Meyuchas, it also sounds like the word “yichus” which we usually translate as lineage. This reminds us that we as Jews, share a common lineage and heritage which keeps us rooted and united.\
As we prepare for Shavuot, we should keep these lessons from Yom Hameyuchas in mind: We are to be mindful of the thoughts and feeling of others, we can be more inclusive to make sure that nobody feels left out, we can work on keeping the Jewish people united, and especially during these difficult times, reaffirm our commitment to Judaism.
This week, the Israeli Knesset approved Yom HaAchdut, Unity Day as an official holiday. Yom HaAchdut has been celebrated for ten years in memory of the three boys who were kidnapped and murdered in 2014, Naftali Frankel, Gilad Shaer and Eyal Yifrach. This year, Yom HaAchdut will be celebrated on Sunday, the third of Sivan and there will be 500 activities to join around Israel that will promote unity.
How appropriate that we will officially celebrate unity, which is so desperately needed, on the day following Yom HaMeyuchas, the original day of unity.
Please join us this Shavuot as we at KOT will be coming together in unity to learn from different members of our community.
Shabbat Shalom!
Classes This Week
- Shabbat at 7:50 PM - Pirkei Avot
- Sunday at 7:30 PM - KOT Beit Midrash - Passover
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Tuesday at 12:30 PM - Parsha Conversations (Postponed)
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