פרשת נשא
דער שבת נאך שבועות
“The Shabbos after Shevous”
There is a Chasidic saying: דער שבת נאך שבועות, איז נאך שבועות. A play on words that exclaims that the Shabbos after (נאך) Shevous is still (נאך) Shevous. There seems to be a connection between the Shabbos after Shevous and the Yom Tov of Shevous.
The Rabonim of Tshortkov would not follow the accepted custom of spending Shevous with the Rebbeh. They would instead spend the Shabbos after Shevous with the Rebbeh. They would say: "ס'איז נאך שבועות" – it is still Shevous. In discussing the reason for this, The Rov of Brezhan said that we can find the source in a response of the Radva”z. The Gemarah teaches that the shulchan in the Bais Hamikdosh was lifted for the עולי רגלים for them to see the miracle of the לחם הפנים maintaining its warmth as on the day it was placed. ראו חיבתכם לפני המקום they were told. Look how Hashem loves you! This took place on Shabbos.
Now, Pesach and Sukkos has a Shabbos. Shevous is one day. We must conclude that the Shabbos after Shevous still carries with it the spirit of the Yom Tov of Shevous.
Our teaching Torah gives us the flavor of Shevous all year round. דער שבת נאך שבועות, the impact of Shevous and its lasting eromah lives with us on a daily basis. We should all be zoche to have a continuous kabolas haTorah and to transmit it with happy hearts to our students.
About the Author: Rabbi Yisroel Meir Rubinfeld
Rabbi Rubinfeld has been in the field of Torah education for over 3 decades and serves as an Executive School Consultant for Torah Umesorah. He provides an array of services to schools across North America, including teacher and principal mentorship, school and curricula evaluations, professional development and parent education.
Rabbi Rubinfeld's expertise includes classroom management and discipline, effective instruction, bullying, cultivating sensitivity in the classroom, impulse disorders (such as ADHD and ODD), and balancing the educational needs of mainstream and special needs children in the classroom.
Rabbi Rubinfeld is the also the founder and director of Torah Umesorah's Lilmod U'Lilamed department which provides professional development for teachers and principals throughout the year.
Rabbi Rubinfeld is a talmid of the distinguished Yeshivos of Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin, the Mirrer Yeshiva in Yerushalayim and Bais Medrash Govoha in Lakewood.