By Rav Aharon Kotler zt”l translated by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com It is known that the special nature of a particular time follows according to that which happened during that time [in the past].  The yemei hagbalah – the days of separation are included in this in general, and the Yom Tov of Shavuos in particular.  We are especially prone and capable of accepting the yoke of Torah during this time and to achieve those devices in which one can acquire Torah.  Without these “acquisition devices” the Torah cannot be acquired.  It is just like any other item that cannot be obtained except through the method of kinyan that is effective for that item. TORAH CAN ONLY BE RETAINED THROUGH THIS If we achieve Torah through any other method, we will not merit to recognize the truth in it.  He will not retain his learning, nor will it be considered his Torah (See Avodah Zarah 19b). EMUNAH IN TORAH MIN HASHAMAYIM INVOLVES ALWAYS REMEMBERING HAR SINAI The Pasuk (Dvarim 4:9) tells us: “But beware and watch yourself very well, lest you forget the things that your eyes saw, and lest these things depart from your heart, all the days of your life..”  The Ramban there explains that this is the essence of Emunah in Torah min hashamayim – that is – constantly remembering how we stood at Har Sinai.  This is also explained in the Rambam Yesodei haTorah (8:1) that our standing at Har Sinai is a deeper fundamental principle than all of the signs and wonders.  The obligation of “And you shall inform your children and grandchildren”  at the end of the Pasuk (in Dvarim 4:9) refers to this obligation – that our standing at har Sinai must truly be within the concept of “that your eyes saw,” – for this is the foundation of Emunah in the laws of the Torah. Now, Chazal have said (Avos 3:8 and Yuma 38b) that one who forgets one item of his learning is liable with his life.  The Gemorah in menachos 99b explains that he is in violation of 3 lavin.  These 3 lavin are derived from the pasuk of “But beware and watch yourself..” REMEMBERING TORAH AND REMEMBERING HAR SINAI ARE SYNONYMOUS The understanding of this concept is that the “remembering of divrei Torah” and the remembering of “Matan Torah – how we got the Torah” are, in fact, one and the same.  The remembering of Matan Torah and how we stood at Har Sinai are both dependent upon and contingent upon our remembering our learning.  This is as the posuk in Dvarim (5:19) states: Hashem spoke these words.. with a great voice, velo yasaf – that did not cease.”  Unkelus translates, “velo yasaf” to mean that it did not stop.  That is, the sound of Matan Torah exists and stands in the Torah [itself]. WHY THERE ARE NO COMMEMORATIONS FOR MATAN TORAH It is for this reason that all the commemorations and signs are connected to Yetzias Mitzrayim – and not to the commemorate Har Sinai – even though it is the foundation of everything as mentioned earlier.  Indeed, Shavuos is not even mentioned in the Torah as the time of Matan Torah. This is what Dovid HaMelech wrote in Tehillim (62:12): “Hashem spoke one thing, I heard […]

The post Why is There No Mention of Shavuos Being Matan Torah in the Torah Itself? Rav Aharon Kotler Answers appeared first on The Yeshiva World.