A few days ago, a non-Jewish colleague was trying to schedule a meeting with me and he asked about dates next week. I mentioned that I would not be working on June 4 and 5 because it was Shavuot. He asked me about the purpose of the holiday and I related a few of the basics: one of the three agricultural holidays and the offering of the first fruits, the receipt of the Torah at Mt. Sinai, all night study and the eating of cheesecake. We moved on to looking for other dates for our meeting, but I kept thinking about the meaning of Shavuot in our modern day Jewish calendar.

Growing up, I think Shavuot got short shrift in my Hebrew school education. It was at the end of the school year, maybe even after classes actually concluded. Other than my Confirmation ceremony (a modern Shavuot "tradition" in some synagogues), I do not recall any particular recognition of the holiday. Yet, certainly the occasion that marks the giving of Torah to the Jewish people is of tremendous significance, whether you believe it was inspired or revealed, as it signifies the covenant of Jews with God, which continues to bind us as a people to this day. And, we also read the Book of Ruth on Shavuot, the story of a strong woman and the representative "convert" to Judaism, thus celebrating the spirit of inclusiveness that belongs as a critical component of all Jewish communities.

So, as our Jewish communal organizations take some time off next week, and we have to find another date for all those meetings, it is a great opportunity to think about those things that bind us together as a people and all the ways that we can be even more inclusive, ensuring that each person has the opportunity to truly find a place in our community.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Shavuot Sameach.