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 Mt. 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 Mt. Sinai, took place on the seventh day of the month of Sivan, in the year 2448 (1313 B.C.E.). 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 Mt. 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.
