|
By the Grace of G‑d
“And he (the Jewish people) encamped there, facing the mountain.” (Exodus 19:2)
“Why does the Torah use the singular form he instead of they? Because the Jewish people were like one person with one heart.” — Rashi on Exodus 19:2
3 Sivan, 5786 - May 19, 2026
Dear Anonymus Person,
In just a few days, we will celebrate the holiday of Shavuot, when we will once again receive G‑d’s Torah, as He gifted it to us for the first time on Mount Sinai.
That moment 3,338 years ago changed the entire universe.
Heaven reached down, earth reached heavenward, and every single Jew—man and woman, elder and child, even the tiniest infants—stood perfectly united, to hear “Anochi … I am the L‑rd your G‑d.” (Exodus 20:2)
All of history had waited for that time, the moment when the Jewish people would accept the task of transforming the physical world into a home for the Divine—and ensure that holiness feels comfortably at home in the physical.
That gift of transformation is realized and activated by incorporating the Torah and its mitzvot into our daily lives. By appreciating G-d’s loving care for each one of us individually, living life in accordance with His principles and sharing them with others, we shift the entire world toward holiness.
And each year, on the holiday of Shavuot, G-d renews that energy. Once again, we stand shoulder to shoulder—like one person with one heart—and receive an all-new charge of that divine energy to elevate the entire world.
The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, teaches that it is highly important for every Jewish man, woman, and child to be present for the reading of the Ten Commandments (this year on Friday, May 23) to experience those moments together.
The Torah is a living bond that threads G‑dliness into ordinary life. It can turn cheesecake and ice cream into tools of transformation. It lifts the physical world higher instead of encouraging us to abandon it. And, in so doing, lifts each of us and draws us closer to one another.
This idea is the very heartbeat of Chabad.org and it is what you help accomplish every single day.
The Rebbe revealed how everything in this world, including scientific development, exists to help Torah illuminate ever further, faster and brighter—and ever more effectively unite people across every time zone and circumstance. Because you sustain this work, a young mother in Sydney can prepare for Shavuot with a commentary on the Ten Commandments, while a toddler sprawls across her lap. A college student in Cambridge can stream a class and feel at home. A seeker in Nepal can find a cheesecake recipe to celebrate Shavuot in style, and millions everywhere can find a way back, can discover an ever-wider path to their soul.
Every click, every experience, every aha moment of discovery begins with you. You keep the echo of Sinai—and the unity it creates—rolling forward.
As Shavuot approaches, thank you for the support that keeps classes streaming, questions answered, and hearts connected in one global community.
If you’d like to give a special gift in honor of the holiday, you can make a Shavuot gift here.
With deep appreciation,
Rabbi Zalman Shmotkin
Executive Director
P.S. With Shavuot beginning this year on Friday, I'd like to remind you of the importance of making an Eruv Tavshilin on Thursday afternoon before the holiday begins.
P.P.S. Want to dive in and learn more about Shavuot?
Feel free to forward these resources to anyone who might enjoy them. And look out for our content-laden email all about the holiday!
|
