by Rabbi Richard Wolpoe
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are that of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the Union for Traditional Judaism, unless otherwise indicated.
In God’s original five-part “liberation plan” (see Exodus 6:6-8), v’heiveiti – “I will bring them (to the Land)” – was the fifth and culminating step in our total redemption. We pray that speedily we may drink that proverbial fifth cup at our next Seder!
What were the first four steps? Three are virtually synonymous expressions of rescue. The fourth is our focus today: V’lakachti etkhem li l’am – “I will take (or acquire) you as a nation….”
Did this happen at the exodus? Not really – it actually occurred at ma’amad har Sinai – the events at Mount Sinai. That is when “asher bachar banu … v’nattan lanu et torato” (Who chose us … and gave us His Torah) occurred.
This is musically reflected in the Kiddush of every Yom Tov! The motif for that kiddush is the melody for Akdamut and it highlights: “asher bachar banu mikkol am” (Who chose us from all nations), which is a Shavuot theme, even when recited on other Yamim Tovim!
So Shavuot is the culmination of our g’ulah (redemption). And this is because we actually celebrated the exodus only one full day. As Sefer Hachinuch notes, on the second day, we counted with our expectations in the direction of mattan Torah on Shavuot. Only for the briefest moment were we escaping from. For the next 48 days, our escape was toward Torah and the fulfillment of V’lakachti.
This freedom to – freedom for a purpose – is key. So many Jews left Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries to come to America to become full Jews in the open.
Sadly, when Jews fled Europe at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries it was not just to escape the Czar but to escape from Judaism. Only an idealistic handful realized how much American religious freedom could enable Jews to find freedom toward Torah.
Despite our tragic losses, this remains our goal and focus: to escape tyranny on behalf of a vision not just of Liberty, but of Divine Service. We will be God’s People.
Chag Same’ach!
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Rabbi Richard Wolpoe is a longtime board member of the Union for Traditional Judaism and faculty of the Institute for Traditional Judaism. Rabbi Wolpoe graduated Yeshiva of Hartford and then attended both Yeshivat Ner Yisrael in Baltimore and in Toronto, before graduating Yeshiva College, with a major in History, in 1973.
He continued his studies, receiving semikha (rabbinic ordination) from Yeshiva University’s Yeshivat Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan (RIETS). He previously served as Rabbi at Congregation Beth Jacob of Astoria and Congregation Ohav Sholaum of Washington Heights-Inwood.
Rabbi Wolpoe is also a mashgiach in Bergen County and a contributor to Nishma.org.
Born in Hartford, Conn., Rabbi Wolpoe now lives in Teaneck with his wife Ramona and two children, Chana Yocheved and Zvi.