Of Laws and Love

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On Shavuos we receive the Torah — our book of law and order. The Torah introduces concepts of limits. It turns out that not everything “goes.” We have to wait a certain time before eating dairy foods after eating meat. We have to stop for one day, once a week, and refrain from doing certain activities. We have to conduct ourselves so that our actions increase holiness and decrease a fixation with the material world. There are limits to our joy and limits to our sadness.

In many ways, the Torah harnesses our impulses so we become elevated. Sometimes we like this and sometimes we don’t, but that’s the way it is. Our ancestors who stood at the mountain wanted these limitations. “Tell us what to do, and we’ll do it,” they said, happily submitting to the powerful Creator who did so many miracles for them.

They recognized Hashem as their great benefactor and were willing to comply with His Rule Book, no questions asked. They did it out of gratitude, trust, and love.

In every generation, we can reawaken the love between ourselves and our Creator by focusing on the good He does for us daily, as well as the historical good He has done for our people. Our Yamim Tovim and tefillos help us do just that. With feelings of gratitude, trust, and love, we too are ready to do the will of Hashem, no questions asked.