Why the Cheesecake? Why No Sleeping?
Heaven Quarreled With Earth Who Should Receive Torah; the Meat-After-Milk Diet Determined the Verdict
Shavuos/Vayeira Class
- May 17, 2015
- |
- 28 Iyyar 5775
Rabbi YY Jacobson
10708 views- Comment
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Dedicated in the loving memory of Nechama Leah bas Reb Pinchas Eliezer, in honor of her yartziet on 3 Sivan
Class Summary:
Unlike any other Jewish Holiday or Shabbos meal, which is always highlighted by a main course of meat or chicken, customarily, the festive meal of Shavuos is dairy, and only afterward do we eat deli. Although there are various reasons for this, this class will explain the spiritual and psychological idea behind this custom, based on the Kabbalistic and Chassidic symbolism of meat and milk.
We will also explore the laws of the prohibition against eating meat and dairy products together, and the reason for waiting six hours after eating meat before eating dairy, but not the reverse. The class also explains the deeper reason for the Jewish custom of staying up on the night of Shavuos. The reason given is that Jews went to sleep on that night, and we are rectifying their behavior. But why would they go to sleep on such an exciting night?
Categories
Shavuos/Vayeira Class
Rabbi YY Jacobson
- May 17, 2015
- |
- 28 Iyyar 5775
- |
- 10708 views
Dedicated in the loving memory of Nechama Leah bas Reb Pinchas Eliezer, in honor of her yartziet on 3 Sivan
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Kalman -1 year ago
What does it mean that we have received the Torah? That day we received only 10 commandments, and the next day Moshe went up the mountain for 40 days and nights to receive the Torah. None of these commandments speak of kosher food. Moreover, the Jews have been eating only mana for a month and a half. What kind of meat and what kind of milk did they eat in the desert?
Before the Mishkan was built, no cattle were slaughtered or eaten at all, and no sacrifices were made. The proposed reason does not reflect the reality of that particular time. If so, why do we eat a dairy meal on this day?
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Joshua Kapuler -3 years ago
1st time they had milk...?
So that means the 1st time they had milk, by Har Siani, it was cholov ackum?? ๐คย
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Shlomo -3 years ago
A small ืืืื ืืฉ ืืืืจ:
I always have this question:ย in north Ecuador countries, the day of Iom Tov of Shavuos is a long one, soย when you come from shul in the morning or early afternoon, why not eat the meat meal first, like a regular Iom Tov, and after 6 hours, eat the dairy meal?
But according what was explained, ืืืืชืง , it makes sense the way is it, first the dairy meal and later the meat one. Thanks.
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Zeldie -4 years ago
Hello Rabbi Jacobson,
Firstly I'd like to thank you for your insight and classes. I've gotten through many long carpool drives and post Shabbos dishes listening to them, and they have impacted my life deeply.ย
Before Shavuos, I listened to your class about the Minhagim- eating Milchigs and staying up all night. I turned the message into a poem which I've shared together with a picture of the dairy chocolate called "Harmony" which caught my eye while shopping for Yom Tov. I decided to share it with you too.
Have a good Shabbos!
In Harmony:
It was called โMatan Torahโ, the Torah was given
The world was renewed, itโs spirit risen
And there was Harmony
The birds did not chirp, dogs did not bark
No creation trying to make its mark
And there was Harmony
No noise, no competition
Only humans, in precision
And there was Harmony
G-Dโs word felt concrete
His people complete
And there was Harmony
A lie wouldnโt last, truth so real
Reality in which wounds clear and heal
And there was Harmony
Heaven and earth connectedย
Physicality transformed, affectedย
And there was Harmonyย
This lower plain, the primary importanceย
For Torahโs application and Mitzvah performanceย
And there was Harmony
We eat dairy foods on this joyous occasionย
To commemorate this time when we became a nationย
We learn from milk, which is flowing, giving
The life which Torah invites us to be living
We face struggles of all kind
In this physical body and mindย
Yet, with an approach of acceptanceย
We tap into our Torahโs essenceย
Seeking meaning and connection
Not angelic perfectionย
It's an individual growing, journeying
A process we call learning
And we live in Harmony
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Malka Forshner -1 year ago
To the mysterious "Zeldie" --
This is an exquisite poem! Did you write it??ย
Can I useitย in my English class?ย
Is it your property or the property of theyeshiva.net??
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Zeldie Cunin -1 year ago
Hi Malka,
Thanks for asking:)
Yes, I wrote this poem, glad you enjoyed it!
Have a wonderful Shavuot!
Best,
Zeldie
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Anonymous -5 years ago
According to the whole pshetelโ: โIn the opinion of โRโav the six hour rule should be after milk not meatโ? โHowever Rav only argue about cham tzonen etcโ.โ?
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Rabbi YY -5 years ago
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Anonymous -5 years ago
i dont understand why we need the reason of preparation for meat
I did not understand, why we need the reason of meat takes time to preapre , why cant we simply say it was Shababt?ย
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Isaac Kleinman -6 years ago
Where do you take it from that the angels ate milk first, and then meat?
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Anonymous Yid -6 years ago
Baalei HaTosafos, Chizkuni, and others on Genesis 18:8.
Check that out.
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Laivy Gelerinter -11 months ago
I asked this of my Rov many years ago and he answered as follows. It is brought in the seforim that someone who is blind is never satisfied (he may be full but not satisfied) as he can't see his food. This is one reason that we light Shabbos candles as we enjoy our food more and are satisfied from it when we can see it and it looks appetizing. The mon tasted like almost anything one wanted (according to one opinion in te gemara it even had the texture of the requisite food) but we are told that it only looked like zera gad lavan. As such it was not that satisfying. The Jews wanted to eat a seuda lichvod the simcha of receiving the Torah and therefore wanted to eat actual food. Since they couldn't eat meat they ate dairy.
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Rabbi YY Jacobson -7 years ago
A question from a viewer:
Just had the opportunity to listen to the Shavuois lecture,and I was left with a sort of question.
Why would not the Mon have sufficed? Like none of the meforshim you brought mention this option.
(of course if it would have sufficed, you wouldnโt have been able to give this shiur)
But seriously, was inyan hoachilo so important then (or even more so) than it is now? Cappucino, Jalapenio herring, kishka, Pizza, etc, notwithstanding?
And didnโt the Mon take on any flavor? (except for the few that are mentioned in the pesukim, onion, garlic squashes and melons, etc.)
Thank you for your time and patience in answering.
Answer: It says in Matos that Reuven and Gad had lots of cattle. So mefarshim say (see l"s vol. 8 matos) because they loved the man they did not eat their animals, but most other shvatim wanted other foods too.
it does say in Eikev that the man kept them hungry, because it was heavenly. (see l"s vol. 4 eikev).
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Laivy Gelerinter -11 months ago
I apparently attached this answer to the wrong comment by accident. Here it is attached to the correct comment.
I asked this of my Rov many years ago and he answered as follows. It is brought in the seforim that someone who is blind is never satisfied (he may be full but not satisfied) as he can't see his food. This is one reason that we light Shabbos candles as we enjoy our food more and are satisfied from it when we can see it and it looks appetizing. The mon tasted like almost anything one wanted (according to one opinion in te gemara it even had the texture of the requisite food) but we are told that it only looked like zera gad lavan. As such it was not that satisfying. The Jews wanted to eat a seuda lichvod the simcha of receiving the Torah and therefore wanted to eat actual food. Since they couldn't eat meat they ate dairy.
Reply to this comment.Flag this comment.