shavuot - Our Inheritance
by Rabbi Lobel

“And G-d spoke to Moses in the Wilderness (Desert) of Sinai...” (Numbers 1:1)

From here our Sages teach us (Medrash Rabba, Bamidbar Rabba 1:7) the Torah was given in the presence of three things - fire, water, and the wilderness (desert). Fire, as it states, “All of Mount Sinai was smoking because G-d had descended upon it in fire.” (Exodus 19:18) Water, as it mentions, “The earth shook, the skies dropped, the clouds poured water... this is what occurred at Sinai in the presence of the G-d of Israel.” (Judges 5:4-5) The Wilderness - “And G-d spoke to Moses in the Wilderness.” (Desert) of Sinai...” (Numbers 1:1)

The Medrash asks, Why was the Torah given in the presence of water, fire, and the wilderness? To teach us that, just as these three things are free to everyone, so, too, is the Torah is free to everyone.

Torah, that most precious of all commodities is free. It is the birthright of every Jew, the “heritage of the Congregation of Jacob”. (Deuteronomy 33:4) There is no individual who is privileged to have access to Torah more than anyone else. Torah is not locked away for only an honored elite class to study from.
During Moses', our teachers, final days, he said to the Children of Israel “For this commandment that I command you today, it is not hidden from you and it is not distant. It is not in heaven to say who can rise to heaven for us and take it for us so that we can hear it and do it. And it is not across the sea to say who can cross to the other side of the sea for us and take it for us and we will hear it and do it. Rather, this thing is very close to you, in your mouth, and in your heart, to do it.” (Deuteronomy 30:11-15)

The Torah is free. It is our birthright and it is within our grasp.

This Shavuot, in the year 5769, on the 3321st anniversary of the revelation at Mt. Sinai, take the Torah, make it yours, and pass it to the next generation.