Holiness begins at home: Bringing divine purpose into daily life

While some might jokingly refer to Shavuot as International Cheesecake Day, the holiday we celebrated earlier this week holds a far deeper significance. It truly commemorates the day we received the Torah from G-d on Mount Sinai, a divine guide for both the ordinary and unexpected moments in our lives. The reception of the Torah was an awe-inspiring event, described in the Torah as follows:

“The entire nation saw the sounds, the lightning, the sound of the shofar and the mountain smoking.”

Within this brief description lies a profound message. Examining the Torah’s emphasis on the various phenomena, we notice a particular focus, not on the heavenly wonders of sounds, lightning and the

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shofar, but rather on the earthly occurrence of “the mountain smoking.” The Ohr Hachayim explains that this smoke emanated from a fire burning within the mountain itself, a tangible event affecting the physical world.

This distinction highlights a crucial point — not only of this article but also of the very purpose the Torah’s giving. The intention is not for us to withdraw from the world in pursuit of higher planes, but rather for the infinite wisdom and guidance of the Torah to permeate our everyday lives, bringing about practical change in our actions and activities.

Jewish tradition includes the custom of eating dairy foods on Shavuot, in addition to holiday meat (though not at the same time, G-d forbid). The principle “A Jewish custom is Torah” underscores the importance of these traditions.

In the year ahead, let’s strive to make our celebrations and meals more than just physically enjoyable. Consider using strictly kosher ingredients, infusing a sense of spiritual awareness into your preparations. Another meaningful practice is to eat with the intention of fueling your body for Torah study or performing mitzvot with greater enthusiasm. The essence is to elevate the ordinary aspects of our lives with holiness, giving them real meaning and purpose. PJC

Rabbi Dovie Kivman is executive director of Chabad of Erie County. This column is a service of the Vaad Harabonim of Greater Pittsburgh.