Did you ever wonder why the holiday of Shavuos doesn’t have any special mitzvah for the masses to do on it? On Pesach we eat matzah, on Sukkos we sit in the sukkah and shake the lulav and esrog, yet on shavuos there’s only customs, no biblical commandment for us?

Why is that?

Join me as we take a deeper look at Shavuos and discover its deep connection to another holiday, the holiday of Shemini Atzeres. Once we uncover the the hidden meaning of “Atzeres” we’ll discover a whole new perspective on the holiday of Shavuos!

Happy Listening!

Rabbi Moshe

thethinkingjew.com

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Sources:

Code of Jewish Law, OC, 494, Chapter about services on Shavuos – https://www.sefaria.org/Shulchan_Arukh%2C_Orach_Chayim.494?lang=bi

Sukka 47b, Shemini Atzeres is called a holiday to itself – https://www.sefaria.org/Sukkah.47b.11?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

Medrish Tanchuma, Pinchas #15, links Shavuos and Shemini Atzeres – https://www.sefaria.org/Midrash_Tanchuma%2C_Pinchas.15.1?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=bi

Pesachim 68b, Talmudic sages call Shavuos “Atzeres” – https://www.sefaria.org/Pesachim.68b.10?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

Nachmanides , Leviticus 23:36, explanation of the above source – https://www.sefaria.org/Ramban_on_Leviticus.23.36.1?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

Kedushas Levi, Homily for Pesach, explains deeper understanding of “atzeres” in regards to both Shavuos and Shemini Atzeres – https://www.sefaria.org/Kedushat_Levi%2C_Leviticus%2C_Homily_for_Pesach.28?lang=he&with=all&lang2=he

Rav Hirsch, Leviticus 23:36, also explains “atzeres” similar Kedushas Levi – https://mg.alhatorah.org/Full/Vayikra/23.36#e0nf