Two Minute Torah Podcast

Shavuot 5769 by Maxine Handelman

Shalom, this is Maxine Segal Handelman, Early Childhood Education consultant for the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Welcome to KOACH's Two Minute Torah, a project of the college outreach department of The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

This coming Shabbat is also the holiday of Shavuot, when we celebrate receiving the Torah at Mt. Sinai. On the first day of Shavuot, we read in the Torah the Ten Commandments, in the book of Exodus. Actually, there are two versions of the Ten Commandments in the Torah: the version in Exodus chapter 20 verses 1-17, and in Deuteronomy chapter 5, verses 6-21. The two versions are very similar, with the exception of the commandment regarding Shabbat, in which there are significant differences. In the Exodus version of the Ten Commandments, we are told "Zachor et yom ha-Shabbat" "Remember the Sabbath day." In Deuteronomy we are told, "Shamor et yom ha-shabbat" "Observe, or keep, or guard the Sabbath day."

The existence of two versions of this commandment holds wisdom for our daily lives.

Martha Beck, life coach and O, the Oprah Magazine columnist, writes in the April 2009 issue of O Magazine, "There are two ways of going through life: Gather everything in sight, just in case you need it. Or, trust that you'll find exactly what you need, just in time." The "Just in case" mentality holds the belief that everything good is scarce, so we need to gather and hoard everything we need. On the other hand, a "Just in time" mindset assumes that everything good is readily available – we will be able to get what we need when we really need it. Remember the Israelites wandering the desert? They received a daily portion of manna, just in time, no hoarding necessary, or for that matter, allowed.

The rabbis understood this too, which brings us back to the commandment for Shabbat we read on Shavuot. Shammai used to say, "Remember the Shabbat" before it comes, and "Guard it" once it has come. It was said about Shammai that the remembrance of Shabbat "never left his mouth." He would buy a nice item, and say "this is for Shabbat." Shammai would eat all week "for the honor of Shabbat;" he would buy a nice cow, and he would say, "This is for the honor of Shabbat." But Hillel had a different attitude; he would trust God to provide the best for each day on that day, and would say, "Blessed is God each day."

Behold - Jewish role models of the Just in case and just in time frames of mind. As you may know, Hillel's opinion almost always trumps that of Shammai. So now, like then, "just in time" is the more beneficial philosophy. This Shavuot, and every Shabbat, relax, let go of excess and clutter, believe that everything good is readily available, and chances are, there will be more than enough cheesecake for everyone.