Spring & Shavuot: A Time to Rededicate Ourselves

by Rabbi Francine Roston

The other day I was driving through South Mountain Reservation admiring the lush greenery, the beautiful flowering trees in the towns surrounding it, and marveling at the transformation of nature in just a few short weeks. From gray to green, from dead to alive — the world transforms before our eyes and we can not help but be affected emotionally, spiritually — and many of us physically, as we sneeze and wheeze! Allergies aside, it is so easy to be happy and optimistic surrounded by the blooms of spring.

In Kedushat Levi Rabbi Levi Yitzhak from Berditchev teaches about the difference between the fall and spring holidays and how they can affect our spiritual lives. (Thank you to Rabbis Gewirtz, Tepperman, and Slater whose study inspired this article.) Rabbi Levi Yitzhak teaches that while God’s grace is good, our relationship with God and the perfection of the universe is dependent on human effort through mitzvoth and Torah. In other words, it’s not enough to just enjoy God’s gifts, we must engage with God in the world.

Rabbi Levi Yitzhak teaches that the Jews were redeemed in Nisan and will be redeemed again in Nisan and in Tishre. He says that redemption in Tishre is better: “There are times that the Blessed Holy One spontaneously, with great mercy, has compassion on the people Israel, without any arousal from below. There are times that the Holy Blessed One has compassion for God’s Self because of His people Israel, because of their acts below, their pleasant deeds, doing mitzvoth. The second way is better for Israel…When God-willing the final redemption comes about by virtue of arousal from below [action from us directed toward God], then redemption will come in Tishre…But, when redemption comes about due to God’s own compassion, then it will come about specifically in Nisan, at a time that no judgment applies.”

Nisan is the month of Pesah — when God redeemed us from Egypt and so we celebrate God’s compassion for Israel and the gift of freedom. Tishre is the month of Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot, Simhat Torah and Shemini Atseret. These holidays revolve around our covenant with God, our obligations and how we have fulfilled them or fallen short. We really have to work at maintaining the relationship with God in Tishre — not that observing Pesah isn’t hard work! But the holiday itself is primarily about the celebration of God’s grace. In Tishre, the relationship with God is more tenuous and rises and falls on our own efforts. Our connection with God results from our prayers and fulfillment of the special mitzvoth connected with each holiday.

Think about the spring, the season of Nisan. It isn’t too hard to be happy, to be conscious of God’s creation, and the gifts of life and nature. Faith comes easy in springtime when the earth has sprung back to life and bearing its fruits!

What can we do to make sure that we don’t take God’s gifts for granted in the spring and summer—in the good times? What can we do to make sure that we don’t just take from the world when everything is flowering, fruitful and bright? What can we do to make sure that we are dedicating ourselves to give back to the earth, our communities, to God and ourselves?

I have a few suggestions. First, celebrate and observe Shavuot, the holiday of the month of Iyar, this year beginning Tuesday, May 18th through Thursday, May 20th. Attend your local synagogue, find a study program, join a Yizkor/memorial service. Say thank you to God in the good times for all the gifts we enjoy at the beginning of summer.

Second, observe Shabbat in a new way this summer. Attend Shabbat services during the summer months—at your local congregation or in the area you might be visiting on business or a family trip. Look around your community and invite a Jewish single or elderly neighbor to a Shabbat meal with your family. Take a walk and enjoy the gift of nature on the day in which we do not create, but only celebrate God’s creation.

Last, consider one way you can give back to the community and support the good works of UJC. Volunteer at one of the many service organizations affiliated with MetroWest. Visit seniors at Federation housing. Are you taking a vacation? Consider tithing a portion of the money invested in your leisure to help support those in our community who can’t afford vacations by donating to UJC MetroWest.

Let’s keep working to connect with God and others through prayer, study and service — even in the good times. And we will all be blessed!

Rabbi Francine Roston is the Rabbi at Congregation Beth El in South Orange.

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