Passover is Over – Now What?

Question

I have heard there is a special relationship between the festival of Passover and the festival of Shavuot, some 50 days later. Would you please explain the connection to me? Thank you.

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Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    The Jewish people’s journey toward nationhood began on Passover. The Exodus redeemed them from physical slavery and subjugation, but they still lacked a national identity and purpose. This was conferred upon them only later – when the Jewish people both heard and saw the words of God at Mount Sinai. In those moments, the newly formed nation obtained its spiritual identity and national calling through the Torah. This world-altering event, the Revelation of the Torah to the Jews at Mount Sinai, took place on the seventh day of the month of Sivan, in the year 2448 (1313 BCE). Every year, this date is celebrated as the festival called Shavuot.

    For the Jewish people who came out of Egypt, the period between the Exodus and the Revelation at Mount Sinai was one of continuous spiritual awakening. Their relationship with God grew stronger and closer. Miraculous events occurred daily. For the Jewish people in subsequent generations, this period continues to be one of the greatest times of the year, in which we prepare ourselves for a renewal of our commitment to the Torah on Shavuot.

    The Torah emphasizes this link between the physical freedom of Passover and the spiritual freedom of Shavuot with a special mitzvah called “Sefirat Ha’Omer”. During this period, each evening — meaning at the beginning of each new day — a special blessing is said and we count the days and weeks from the second day of Passover until the festival of Shavuot.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team