By Rabbi Howard Wolk
Parasha Emor

The portion of Emor is a major source in the Torah for the holidays of the year. After explaining Shabbat, the Torah proceeds to describe all the festivals, beginning with Passover. Each holiday’s date and basic requirements are outlined.

There is one notable omission: the date for Shavuot. The Torah — neither in this week’s portion nor anywhere else — furnishes a date for the Shavuot holiday.

Of course, we understand how we get to Shavuot. We begin counting the Omer on the second night of Passover and continue for seven weeks. When we arrive at the 50th day, we celebrate the holiday of Shavuot.

But still — why no date for the holiday? And nowhere does the Torah call the holiday z’man matan Torah’taynu — the time of the Giving of our Torah. This name is used in the Amidah and Kiddush of the two-day holiday. Why this notable omission?

The commentator Ibn Ezra, on Leviticus 23:11, explains: “And now I will hint to you a secret… All other holidays are tied into a month and a date, but not Shavuot. And it was the Rabbis who identified Shavuot with the giving of the Torah.”

The Torah had a concern. If a specific date were given for Shavuot, perhaps people would develop the wrong attitude toward its importance and observance.

People might say: The rest of the year, the Torah is not relevant. Come that one special day — let’s call it Torah Day — then I will observe the Torah. But the rest of the year, the Torah shifts into the background.

Obviously, the Torah does not desire that approach. The Torah gives us guidance and a way of life for the entire year.

So we have to do a little homework. We must make a nightly effort. We have to count the 49 days of the Omer — and then we know when to celebrate Shavuot.

This past Sunday was Mother’s Day. A very significant day.

It is very nice to set aside a special day for one’s mother or father.

But if Mother’s Day or Father’s Day is the only day that one does things for one’s parents — if it is the only time that a son or daughter is concerned with one’s parent — then the lesson about the date of Shavuot is not understood.

Rather, our responsibilities to our parents are year-round.

So too, our commitment to the Torah and its teachings must permeate all of our deeds and actions every day of the year.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Howard Wolk is the community chaplain, of Jewish Family Service of Greater Dallas and rabbi emeritus of Congregation Shaare Tefilla. He is a member of the Rabbinic Association of Greater Dallas.