Next week, we will celebrate the holiday of Shavuot, marking the end of the period of counting the Omer, and we will receive the Torah at Mount Sinai. We find joy in this holiday by studying late into the night, listening to the Ten Commandments chanted from the Torah, and indulging in delicious dairy desserts, like cheesecake. I am looking forward to singing songs into the night with all of you around the campfire.
We are taught that we celebrate Shavuot as if each of us were present at Sinai. Our souls and the souls of all the Jewish people yet to come were clustered around the base of the mountain along with our ancestors, waiting for Moses to return with God’s holy word.
Just prior to receiving the Torah, the Israelites escaped slavery, fled Egypt, witnessed the miracle of the parting of the Sea of Reeds, and crossed onto dry land as the waves swallowed up their enemies. How can we possibly wrap our heads around the journey we took to get here?
To get in the right headspace, I invite you to join me in a memory not quite as distant as the origin of the Torah, but on a spring afternoon just a couple months ago when our Nitzanim (sprouts, kids ages 3-5) cohort gathered to explore the Exodus story.
When our families arrived for the afternoon, they were greeted by Miss Gael, our Nitzanim teacher, who invited them to pack up their sacks. We were leaving Egypt and there was no time to waste! Each child tied a bit of matzah in their sack and practiced walking along the upper Ya’ar with it.
We then circled up for our welcome song and intro to the day. Families each found a picture of the Sea of Reeds parting in a storybook and shared what was happening with their caregivers and then the group. One kid noted that we were looking at our ancestors! Another kid found people singing and dancing with all sorts of instruments. We imagined what that would be like… What do you think people were feeling at that moment?
Then Moses (aka Cantor Jenn) with staff in hand led our group down down down out of Egypt and into our beautiful Ya’ar. Did we see the sea yet? No? Then we had to keep going! What is it going to look like and feel like on the other side?
We followed the sound of water until we reached the steam, aka our Sea. Our caregivers made a bridge with their hands, and each kid crossed over to the other side to freedom! When we all made it across, we sang joyfully! The words of Ozi V’Zimrat Yah, Mi Chamocha, and Miriam’s Song filled the air, along with the sounds of tambourines and rushing water. Our kids and families were then free to explore the stream, and we found rocks, leaves, bugs, and some clay that gave our stream a reddish color.
Miss Gael helped each kid scoop some stream water into a jar, which we brought back with us. We used that water to create beautiful watercolor art to remind us of the beauty of being free in the Ya’ar. As we walked back up, two of our kids shared the role of “Miriam,” leading the group with their walking sticks. We closed out the day with some Passover snacks and sang l’hitraot, see you later.
As we reflect during Shavuot on the experience of receiving the Torah, let’s not forget the journey it took to get there. What better way to receive the Torah than through the eyes of a child: with wonder, excitement, newness, awe, laughter, and joy.
