The Silence That Speaks
During Shavuos, just before the Torah reading, Sephardi Jews read a marriage contract between G-d and the people. It really is a marriage contract, a ketubah, and it was written in the sixteenth century by Israel Najara:
On the sixth day of the third month, the Invisible One came forth from Sinai. The bridegroom, ruler of rulers, prince of princes, said to his beloved (the people) who is beautiful as the moon, as radiant as the sun, as awesome as an army with great banners, "Many days you will be mine and I will be your redeemer. I will honor, support, and maintain you. I will be your shelter and refuge in eternal mercy. I will give you the Torah by which you and your children will live in health and peace and harmony."
The bridegroom delivered the Torah that is bigger than the earth and broader than the seas. The bride consented to the covenant and an everlasting agreement was made. As a dowry, the bride brought a heart that understands, ears that listen, and eyes that see.
"May the Bridegroom rejoice with the Bride and the bride rejoice with the husband of her youth, while uttering words of praise."
There is another story about Shavuos that I have heard every year ... that all extant souls -- past, present, and future -- stood together at Mt. Sinai for the giving of the ten commandments, the receiving of our Torah. It was too powerful an experience to receive directly so we needed Moses to convey to us G-d's gift which twirled our senses as we heard the Letters and saw the Voice.
This year I heard something new. But first, have you ever felt an instant rapport with someone and the gift of time proves their love, loyalty, and vigilance to be of the caliber of Ruth's devotion to Naomi? Thank G-d, I have been so blessed. A girlfriend now become lady-friend -- we've grown middle-aged under our watchful eyes --has been my crying shoulder when fears would paralyze me; a pillar of support when walls were collapsing in my realm; a sounding board when the world confounded me. The new twist to the old story is that such a bond could only come from a shared revelation, i.e. the law we received at Mt. Sinai after we had left bondage in Egypt those many, many generations ago.
And so, if we have always felt like we've known each other forever, we have. What a comfort to know that our souls have been side by side ever since Mt. Sinai.
May we know and learn again and again the attributes of emotion.
May we exemplify G-d's many names of mercy.
A heartfelt thank-you to an old, old, old, old friend.
Bibliography:
Treasures of the Heart: Holiday Stories That Reveal the Soul of Judaism by Diane Wolkstein
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