Shavuot: Reb Zalman on the Book of Ruth

Wednesday, May 19 is Shavuot, the Jewish Festival of “Weeks,” that traditionally marked the end of the seven-week grain harvest that began at Pesach (Passover). As such, it was one of the three traditional pilgrimage festivals (including Pesach and Sukkot, which also have agricultural significance). But even more importantly, Shavuot is also the anniversary of G-d’s giving of the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai.

One tradition observed on Shavuot is the reading of the Book of Ruth. Why Ruth? There are three reasons. First, the book takes place during the grain harvest. Second, it discusses Ruth’s process of becoming a Jew (in other words, one who accepts G-d’s gift of the Torah). Third, Ruth is identified as the great-grandmother of King David, who died on Shavuot (according to the Talmud).

Ruth and Naomi, by Arthur Szyk (www.szyk.org)

The Book of Ruth is a beautiful story that depicts the love and devotion between Ruth and her mother-in-law Naomi, as well as Boaz’s selfless charity. The Book of Ruth shows how love, loyalty and compassion—whether between family members or complete strangers—can create a sacred community that insulates its members from loss, suffering and deprivation. This simple and unassuming story provides one of the Tanakh‘s great models for how to live in the world.

One of my favorite ways to celebrate Shavuot is by watching Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi read the Book of Ruth. Reb Zalman translates the text into English from the original Hebrew as he goes, while adding his own unique and captivating commentary. Reb Zalman’s retelling is flavored with meaningful observations about Hebrew linguistic features, connections with subsequent rabbinic law, the rigorous nature of stoop labor (drawn from Reb Zalman’s work with Chicano labor leader César Chávez) and more. Throughout, Reb Zalman infuses the story with his own playful sense of humor, while also emphasizing—and, even more importantly, personally manifesting—the admirable quality of chesed (loving-kindness) exhibited by the characters.

The result is a remarkably original, insightful and moving version of the Book of Ruth that is also a journey through (Ashkenazic) Jewish history: from Yiddish humor and Jewish participation in the civil rights struggles in the US, through the hasidic communities and yeshivot of Ashkenaz, through the compilation of the Talmud in Palestine and Babylonia, all the way back to Judaism’s roots in the Israelite tribal consciousness, with its keen focus on G-d, family and the natural world. Honestly, this video never gets old for me. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

There are seven parts to this video. All together, it runs about 35 minutes. You can find all seven parts here. Here is part one:

This video was filmed on Shavuot 5768 (2008) at the Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center in Falls Village, Connecticut. I’ve never been, but I’ve heard great things from friends who’ve worked there. I’ll have to check it out. So should you.

(Thanks to Velveteen Rabbi for introducing me to this video last year!)