Short Thought for Shavuos | By Rav Asher Weiss Shlit"a (5786)

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The opening of this shiur, in Rabbi Asher Weiss’s own words — taken from the captions, so names and Hebrew terms may be approximate.

So, in just another few days, it's Shavuot, and we are entering the Yamim Tovim. Shalosh Regalim that Hashem gave us. Sukkot has two huge mitzvot. Mitzvah of Sukkot and mitzvah of Lulav. Pesach has many more. Many mitzvot of Layla Seder, matzah, maror, sippur yetziat Mitzrayim, dalet kosot, heseibah, issur achilat chametz, bedikat chametz, bittul chametz, many mitzvot. Shavuot has no mitzvot. It is only Yom Tov. But Shavuot has two important minhagim. And when there are no mitzvot, the minhagim have even greater meaning and significance. >> [snorts] >> What are the two minhagim of Shavuot? They seem to be two extremes. One minhag is Layla Shavuot, staying up all night to learn. The other minhag is blintzes. Some asymmetry. Doesn't seem to be symmetrical. One minhag is you learn all night, and the other one is blintzes and cheesecake. So, what is it about? Fascinating Gemara in Pesachim Samech Het. Rabbi Yochanan says there is a stira between two pesukim. Pesachim Samech Het, Rabbi Yochanan says a stira between two pesukim. Atzeret Hashem, Atzeret l'Hashem. And there's a machloket between Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Akiva and Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chananya, the two of the greatest Tannaim. Rabbi Eliezer says "Each individual could choose either Hashem or Lakhem." You could decide, it's up to you. Do you want to daven and learn all day, or do you want to eat and drink and have a good time? Is it about Simchas Hanefesh or Simchas Haguf? Physical or spiritual? Anyone could decide. Rebbi Yehoshua says, "No, that's not reasonable. Khetzi'o Hashem Vekhetzi'o Lakhem." Learn and daven well, and you also have a mitzvah of Simchas Yom Tov, which is most of the Yayin.

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1. 0:00So, in just another few days, it's Shavuot, and we are entering the Yamim Tovim. Shalosh…
2. 1:04One minhag is Layla Shavuot, staying up all night to learn. The other minhag is blintzes.…
3. 2:35And then the Gemara says something surprising. Hakol Modim Ba'Atzeres De'Ina Beinam Lakhem. Shavuos, even Rabbi…
4. 4:08Shemaiah from a cubicle all of Yom Zeh Shebo Nitan Torah L'Yisrael. And my feeling is…
5. 5:39Talmidim should be like family. But anyway, he learned in Lakewood, then he got married, he…
6. 7:19And then I asked him, "How many children do you have?" And he says, "I have…
7. 8:23Even in Has V'shalom after 120, or maybe even before 120, I would have reached the…
8. 9:58Rashi says, "Even if you will be in dire straits and even if the circumstances will…
9. 11:32of the Shabbos Torah is this. >> Yes. It's about cheesecake and blintzes. Yeah, that's what…
10. 13:13To enjoy Torah, and hundreds of times I quoted Rabbeinu Yonah, above. How do we translate…

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