Special Shavuot Message

by Rabbi Yaakov Menken, Director of Project Genesis / Torah.org

The upcoming holiday of Shavuos is the Holiday of the Giving of the Torah.

It has no special signs or symbols -- no Matzah, no Sukkah, no Shofar, no fasting... its only symbol is the Torah itself. And whether it's due to the lack of symbols -- and the timing, coming at the beginning of summer for most of us -- it is given short shrift on the modern Jewish calendar, and that's a tragedy.

And in that, it is a paradigm, because the Torah itself has been given the short end of the stick.

Today we know that only Jewish education can hold us together, and, indeed, Torah study is one of the few things that all Jews can agree upon.

Project Genesis gives every Jew the opportunity to study online, informally, at his or her own pace. Whether via email, on the web, whether QNA or MP3, Project Genesis invites everyone to come and learn.

As we go into the holiday, I hope you will commit yourself to a year of growth in your own studies, and that you will join us in our efforts to spread Jewish learning as well, with your contribution.

May you and yours have a wonderful Shavuos holiday, filled with the richness of Torah learning and Jewish growth.

Thank you very much.