by Rabbi Monique Mayer (Bristol & West Progressive Jewish Congregation)*

This Saturday evening, all over the world, Jews will celebrate the Festival of Shavuot, or “weeks”. For seven weeks, our community has counted the days from the second day of Passover to Shavuot, marking each day through an exploration of inner qualities to become better human beings. This counting period is known as the “Omer”, which is a sheaf of grain. Shavuot is the fiftieth day after the beginning of Passover, and is one of the three pilgrimage Festivals mentioned in the Hebrew Bible, based around agricultural cycles. Shavuot marked the end of the barley harvest and the “first fruits” of the wheat harvest were brought to the Temple in ancient times. After the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, the day became more strongly associated with receiving the Torah at Sinai, and it is celebrated today through reciting the 10 Commandments, an evening of study, and the consumption of dairy products, particularly cheesecake. One explanation (there are several) for why dairy is consumed is that at Sinai, the Israelites were considered to be as innocent as newborns, whose food is milk. 

This year I’ve been particularly struck by how contentious so many issues have become between families, neighbours, and friends. And I keep returning to the question, “What does one need to do to become a decent human being—a mensch?” Some of the answer lies in our sacred texts. The Festival of Shavuot celebrates the receiving of ten statements concerning how we conduct ourselves with others. At such a time when so many interest groups seek to divide opinions and peoples based on “rights”, we would do well to remember that the ancient document from which all Peoples of the Book draw wisdom is not a bill of rights, but a list of acknowledgements and responsibilities…responsibilities to each other and to the Divine in whose image we are all created.

* Rabbi Monique Mayer is Rabbi to the Bristol & West Progressive Jewish Congregation. She received rabbinic ordination from Leo Baeck College in London, and holds a Master’s degree in education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She is the author of the Liberal Judaism Ba’alei Tefillah programme for training lay leaders and has also developed a music course for Jewish educators for the Department of Jewish Education (Leo Baeck College).