Rabbi Bockman on: Shabbat Hol Ha-Mo'ed Pesach

In Exodus 33:12 - 34:26, we see Moses and God debating whether or not God loves Moses and the Jewish people. Moses asks to be shown God's glory. God tells Moses that he can see God's "back" or "after(math)" rather than God's face. Strangely enough, after this occurs, the Torah switches gears and lists the sacred Holidays, including our current Holiday of Pesach.

Why mention the Holidays in a moment of supreme divine intimacy? (see Read More for Details)

Perhaps it is because when we gather together to observe holidays as a close-knit family or group, that is when we can experience the presence of God most reliably. Another explanation might be that the "aftermath" of God's interaction with us is specifically the (re-) uniting of our people as a close-knit group, a people who have - in our past - shared a unique experience together. After such experiences, how can we help but find traces of those experiences when we band together to observe and celebrate?

This is a direct path back to Sinai for us Jews.

May we find the love for each other implicit in the Song of Songs.

R' David Bockman

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