Shavuot commemorates a time when we communicated with G-d and received the Torah on Mount Sinai. Did you ever wonder why this site was chosen?
Here is a charming and illuminating Chassidic thought: the mountain is a symbol of love. Just as one who loves experiences an expansion of spirit and a broadening of self, so the mountain stands tall and protrudes from the landscape.
The opposite is fear: on a physical level, fear causes one's blood vessels to constrict, and fear is represented by a valley.
Happiness and love can result in physical growth and enlargement: sadness and irritation can cause contraction and reduction.
Thus, according to the mystical view of a mountain, our brush with G-d at Sinai takes on new meaning. G-d didn't scare us into a relationship, He loved us into one by overwhelming our senses with an abundance of affection, thus compelling us to accept the Torah out of love, in a way we could not resist. At that delicate moment, when we were about to accept our mission in the world, we found ourselves embraced by a virtual cocoon of unconditional warmth and acceptance, vacuum packed with tenderness and devotion. So it was at Sinai that G-d injected us with an extra dose of love.
That extra dose of love is exactly what we try to accomplish here at Chabad Naples and at our Preschool.
We want to share, that the greatest nachas is when we hear repeatedly how this place called Chabad of Naples is a Sinai experience, where regardless of background people always point out how special Chabad is to them.
People say that when they come to shul it is like receiving an extra dose of love. When they send their children to Hebrew school, they are overjoyed that their first experience of Jewish education is in such a joyous and love-filled environment — they will always associate Jewish education and the Jewish community with love.
As Chabad Naples continues to grow, we will continue to practice this same love, joy, and happiness. Judaism is a rich and powerful heritage meant to be shared, so come and experience this treasure with the beautiful symbol of love, the mountain in Naples called Chabad. It is our prayer and our hope that this attitude of love permeates our entire community and country, allowing us to move forward to a world filled with lovingkindness. This is the legacy of Shavuot.
On Shavuot, as we recommit ourselves on Sunday, come and experience this love and joy with your family for the Ten Commandments, and a party with a dairy buffet and ice cream.