An Entree Into Shavuot: The Ritual Feast

May 14, 2010

Continued from Page 1

Here the Midrash uses the sense of touch and smell as a metaphor for the experience of Torah study. Most of the time we think of study as an academic exercise. Why did the rabbis conceive of the study of Torah with such sensual imagery? Is it possible to experience Torah in this way?

There is much more to our Shavuot Seder than can be described here. But this gives you a sense of how symbolic foods point participants to the experience of the giving of the Torah and how it tasted, felt, and smelled. These foods over time become more deeply associated with Torah and make its study more than just an intellectual activity.

Rabbi Dov Gartenberg grew up in Southern California and attended UC Berkley before continuing his studies of religion and Judaism at Harvard University and the Jewish Theological Seminary. He has served as both a congregational rabbi in the LA area and Seattle, Washington. His emphasis on restoring the ritual feast (Seder) and hospitality as central to Jewish life, has won numerous awards and is influencing congregations and communities around the country.

To receive unpublished copies of the Shavuot Seder, please write Rabbi Dov Gartenberg at [email protected].

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5/14/2010 4:00:00 AM

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Judaism

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