Tonight is Shavuos, the festival when we remember and celebrate the giving of the Torah on Mt Sinai 3321 years ago. The Mt Sinai experience was the defining moment in our history. It was this event that transformed us into G-d's nation. Our sages refer to this festival as the wedding day between G-d (the groom) and the Jewish people (the bride).

On Shavuos there are many customs including:

1) Staying awake on the first night to study Torah.

2) Going to shul on the first day to hear the Ten Commandments being read from the Torah scroll.

3) Eating milk foods (cheesecake and blintzes).

There are many lessons that can be learned from these customs. Here is one suggestion.

For any marriage to thrive (including our relationship with G-d), at the very least we need to:

1) Put in effort - It is always easy to drift into a state of complacency, taking our relationships for granted. However without constant effort small cracks begin to develop and the relationship weakens. We cannot afford to fall asleep. We must always be alert and focused on making it work.

2) Be open to expert advice - When we listen to the Ten Commandments we are making a statement that we don't know it all. We need direction on how to move forward. The Torah is our frame of reference - a higher moral code that can offer us that guidance.

3) Leave past baggage behind - Milk is the food of babies. Little children don't have a complicated past that distracts them from moving forward. Eating milk products reminds us to bring newness to our commitment. If we have made mistakes we can always make a fresh start.

So study hard, listen carefully and enjoy the cheesecake. .

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