Feature Stories
Volumne 16 Number 5
May/June 2000
Nisan/Iyar/Sivan 5760
Examining Our Vows At Shavuot
By Rabbi Barney Kasdan
Nineteen years ago my wife Liz Kaye and I stood under the Chuppah as we were married at the LA Athletic Club. No, we didn’t bring our running shoes. But as a part of our traditional yet Messianic ceremony, we filled out a traditional Ketubah (wedding contract). Throughout Jewish history, the Ketubah has been an important statement of the conditions and agreements between the husband and wife. The beautiful contract still hangs on our living room wall as a reminder of the vows which we took in 1981. Every so often, Liz and I take some time (usually at an anniversary dinner) to evaluate how we are living up to these vows.
Every year in the late spring I am also reminded of another important wedding anniversary. This one is celebrated in the holiday of Shavuot (Pentecost in Greek) which is the time when the marriage took place between G-d and His people Israel. You remember the history. At Passover we recount the redemption from the slavery of Egypt. Yet this nation of former slaves was taken into the wilderness on their way to the promised land. Unfortuately, it was a bit of a detour in the Sinai for various reasons. However, it was just 50 days after the first Passover that the people found themselves at the foot of Mount Sinai. Moshe ascended the cloud-covered mountain (reminiscent of a chuppah) and received the divine revelation of the Torah from the very presence of G-d. As with the Jewish wedding ceremony, the written words of Torah could rightly picture the Ketubah between the groom (G-d) and the bride (Israel). Likewise, there was a public statement of marriage at that time as the bride responded “na’aseh v’nishmah” (All that the L-rd has spoken, we will do) cf. Shmot/Exodus 19:8. This was perhaps the most powerful “I do” in history! From that time of Shavuot one could say that our people entered into a sanctified relationship with the Holy One. Of course this marriage, like most, has had its ups and downs. Even at some stages of the last 3500 years it seemed that divorce was inevitable. But by G-d’s grace, He has never cancelled the Ketubah with Israel as the New Testament verifies (cf. Romans 9-11). It should be noted that while G-d has never forsaken his people, the door has been opened to others to also enter this personal marriage relationship with our Groom. For those of us who believe in Yeshua as G-d’s Messiah, it is quite fitting that He is called the groom for all true believers, Jew or non-Jew. How perfect is the symbolism as we see Yeshua lifting the cup of the New Covenant as if to enter into the betrothal stage of the marriage with his disciples at that last meal together.
This is where we stand at this point of history. G-d entered into the marriage with all the people who said “I do” on that first Shavuot. How appropriate it is to look at this holiday as the spiritual anniversary for all who have said “I do” to the great bridegroom, Messiah Yeshua. As with our earthly anniversaries, it seems that Shavuot is the perfect time to consider our original vows (as found in the Holy Scriptures) and to prayerfully evaluate them. G-d has certainly fulfilled his part of the contract. How do you measure up to those vows of the Ketubah on this upcoming anniversary?
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