Tonight, we count the 32nd day of the Omer (the 49 day count until Shavuot). As we approach the holiday, we count in anticipation and preparation for once again "accepting" the Torah anew.
The Midrash Rabba (Song of Songs, 1:4) relates that prior to G-d giving the Torah to the Jewish people, He asked for guarantors; an assurance that the Jews’ acceptance wouldn't be a fleeting fancy, but an eternal commitment. After G-d rejected the use of our forefathers and prophets, the Jews declared that the children would serve as guarantors. It was only then that G-d gave them the Torah.
"The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘They are certainly good guarantors, I will give it to you on their account.’ That is what is written: “"From the mouths of infants and sucklings You founded strength”" (Psalms 8:3)"
It wasn't the sages or the prophets, the scholars or our ancestors, who were accepted as guarantors, but the children. It wasn't our past or present that could ensure the continuity of Torah and the fledgling Jewish nation, but our future. As a nation we took upon ourselves the responsibility to learn in order to model, teach, and pass on our heritage.
Back in November, I experienced the pride of a teacher as each of my students at Nigri Jewish Online School was presented with their very first Chumash by their parents at our virtual Chumash party. Following our celebration, we took our journey of Torah learning to a higher plane, reading, translating, and decoding words inside the text.
Today, I got to sit on the other side of the screen and experience the pride of a parent, as we presented Bracha Elka with her very first Chumash. It's been hidden away for months, as she studied hard, her teacher laying the groundwork for exploring the Torah on a deeper level. She's been begging to see it for some time. As she clutched it today, her smile is a reminder of our 3,300 year old promise and responsibility that has brought us to this point, but also a glimpse of our hopeful and bright future as a nation.
ב"ה