| 5) Now therefore, if ye will hearken unto My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be Mine own treasure from among all peoples; for all the earth is Mine; (6) and ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.’ (7) And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the LORD commanded him. (8) And all the people answered together, and said: ‘All that the LORD hath spoken we will do.’ And Moses reported the words of the people unto the LORD. (9) And the LORD said unto Moses: ‘Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and may also believe thee for ever.’ And Moses told the words of the people unto the LORD. (10) And the LORD said unto Moses: ‘Go unto the people, and sanctify them to-day and to-morrow, and let them wash their garments, (11) and be ready against the third day; for the third day the LORD will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai. |
Questions:
- What do the Israelites know about what to expect?
- How are the Israelites told to prepare?
- In what ways would this preparation help ready themselves for this holy moment of meeting God at Sinai?
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Sforno on Exodus 19:11 -- Holistic Preparation והיו נכונים, that not only the mind, the spirit, be in readiness for the revelation but also the body that houses the spirit. This was necessary because the level of prophecy they would experience at the revelation would far surpass anything an ordinary prophet experiences, something for which he does not have to prepare his body by ritual immersion. |
Questions:
- How is washing (or ritual immersion) a way to "ready" mind, spirt and body?
- In what ways was this experience at Mt. Sinai a major life moment?
- How might immersion have helped them get ready?
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The Custom of Immersion In Preparation for Shavuot Although the custom of most people is to stay awake all night learning Torah and to pray at sunrise, the custom of many Chasidim is different. According to the Zohar, in addition to the eve of Shavuot, one is to immerse himself in the mikvah an additional time just before dawn on Shavuot morning. The reason stated in the Zohar is to bring upon oneself an extra measure of Holiness (before the "wedding"). At this point in time, when most people are getting ready for Shavuot prayers, the Chasidim go to sleep for a few hours. Most people doze off during the prayers, longing for the end, and missing the most beautiful service of the year. The Chasidim though, awake refreshed after a few hours of sleep and pray with energy and fervor throughout the whole service. - From Our People by Jacob Isaacs published and copyrighted by Kehot Publication Society 1946-1948 on chabad.org |
Question for Reflection:
- Why might someone immerse in water to prepare for Shavuot?
- What intention might you set if you were to think about immersing in water to prepare for Shavuot? or another of life's holy moments?
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Suggested Prompts for Writing or Mediation prior to immersion by Rabbi Sarah Tasman Take some time to journal or reflect on the following 3 prompts, which mirror the tradition of dunking 3 times in the mikveh. How might these prompts help you set an intention for Shavuot this year? 1.What do you want to let go of? 2.What are you feeling at this time? What have learned about yourself that you want to remember/hold on to in this moment? 3.What are you open to? What are your hopes for the future? What do you need to receive? |
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When a person immerses his entire body in such water, (viz. water that has not lost its’ elemental character) and sinks completely, into this element, all connections between this person and the realm of impurity is severed. This person leaves the ground of human beings, and returns for a moment to the world of elements, in order to begin a new life of purity. Symbolically, this person is reborn. -Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch (Parshat Shmini) |