Take the Inspiration from Shavuos to Complete your Mission!
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
This year Shabbos falls on the 12th of Sivan which is the last day of the ‘Yemei Tashlumim’ the ‘days of completion’ that follow the Yom Tov of Shavuos. During the Yemei Tashlumim we do not say Tachanun. What are the Yemei Tashlumim? The Yomim Tovim of Pesach and Shavuos both have seven days. There are certain korbonos that are required on the first day. If for some reason a person cannot bring his korbon on the first day there still remain the rest of the seven days of the Yom Tov to make up and bring the missing korbonos. The Yom Tov of Shavuos however is only one day, therefore there are Yemei Tashlumim which also afford the opportunity to bring missing korbonos after Yom Tov. The fact that this year Shabbos falls on the 12th of Sivan, the last day of the Yemei Tashlumim teaches us that this is a good time to complete and strengthen the lessons and resolutions for Shavuos.
What did we take from the entire Yom Tov of Shavuos? Certainly it was far more than a few pounds of cheesecake. On Shavuos we received the Torah. We received our purpose as the Jewish people, a purpose even greater than having had our neshamos chosen to serve Hashem. On Shavuos Hashem chose the Jewish body. Therefore with every mitzvah we perform we refine and elevate the physical body and the environment.
The first of the Ten Commandments is “Anochi Hashem Elokecha, I am G-d your G-d”. It wasn’t that Hashem made Himself known in general, “I am G-d” He also informed each and every individual in the singular, “I am G-d your G-d” as you are, here today, not on high in the world of souls but in this world in a physical body. Since the day of Matan Torah we have received the power to affect the physical world whenever we learn the Torah render halacha decisions and do mitzvos. By learning the Torah and by doing Mitzvos we complete the creation.
This is emphasized in the Hayom Yom for the 9th of Sivan which falls out during the Yemei Tashlumim:
“The world is in need of a purified atmosphere. Purified air comes only through words of Torah. Words of Torah offer protection in general and for each individual in particular. The division of the Six Orders of Mishnah for memorization is intended for "when you walk on the road." The Mishna or two recited from memory wherever one may be, in whatever sort of place he may be, will illuminate the bond between Israel and G‑d. The letters MiSHNaH are the same as NeSHaMaH (soul). It is extremely difficult to find the words to express the tremendous benefit, with G‑d's help, in the general and individual protection that constant repetition of Mishna will bring. And there are no words to describe the tremendous gratification one thereby gives the Creator, may He be blessed.”
This lesson is also very similar to the mitzvah of Sefiras HaOmer. To complete the counting of the Omer, every day counts. If one day is missing we cannot complete the mitzvah. It’s all one chain that is interlinked. So too with the Yemei Tashlumim which culminates on the 12th of Sivan which falls on this Shabbos. This also reminds us throughout the year how every day counts, how every day is important for learning the Torah. Every day is inseparable and interlinked with every other in changing the world for the better and completing the purpose of the entire year.
Children notice when they see their parents learn. It has an effect that is greater than words of advice or lectures. Every resolution comes down to the actual deed. Shavuos reminds us that our inspiration to act comes not only from feeling a special spiritual bond with Hashem for having been chosen but also an even more special bond with Hashem for having chosen our bodies to serve Him and thereby transform this world together with our neshamos in our bodies as we are today. With this inspiration we add in our learning of the Torah giving of tzedaka and mitzvos in general and improving the quality of the education of our children. We teach them how every bracha is important and how every deed matters to complete our purpose and how Hashem finds endless value in them as well as every mitzvah they do. May we witness how Hashem takes each and every one of us by the hand out of the galus to the geula ha’amitis v’hashleima” the final Yom HaTashlumim, today.
A Good Shabbos