89 - Shavuot

Perhaps the most dramatic moment of our communal worship comes during the Torah service. As the reading is completed, the Torah is raised, the portion of the week displayed (hagbah) and we say: "And this is the Torah that Moses placed before the people of Israel, according to the commandment of the Eternal to the hand of Moses" - from the Mouth of God to the hand of Moses.

As we rejoice during Shavuot at that miraculous time when we all stood at Sinai to hear God’s words, we are linked behind and ahead to all of our people.

Eighty-Nine

Shavuot

Upon Sinai, in darkness and in light,
Upon Sinai, the hand of Moses trembles;
Below Sinai the people sing,
A cacophony of song dances in the air.

Upon Sinai, with shadow and with fire,
With coldness and with fierce heat,
The mouth of Moses trembles
As he reads back the dictation.

Upon Sinai, in the still air,
Moses nods once more and struggles to rise
As he has struggled these past months
To feel his legs beneath him on the sand.

The songs of the people dance in the air,
Shimmering melodies of delight
Hover in the desert heat
As Moses guards his steps down the mountain.

And the songs begin to form around him,
A spiral winding of pure tones
That dress Moses in a spectrum of sound,
A glimmering garment of melody.

Until he stands again with the people,
And, holding out his hands,
He embraces them with his own song
Of the Living God.

Then did our songs become songs of praise,
Then could all our varied songs worship You
And give You thanks, O Eternal and Beloved One.

As from Moses’ lips we were called,
As from Moses’ shoulder the burden was shared,
So do Your people Israel give You praise.