Shavuot story

This is a story about a rich and respected family. The family of Naomi and Elimelech. 

One day they decided to leave their home and go to Moav (Because of the famine that was in the land at that time…)

Mahlon and Chilion, both were married to “Moaviyot” women. Ruth and Orpah.

Elimelech, Mahlon and Chilion, were dead not a long time after they left to Moav.

Naomi, Ruth and Orpah were widows.

So when Naomi heard that the famine was over she decided to go back to her homeland! Ruth and Orpah did not want to leave their mother-in-law alone… So, they told Naomi: “We want to come with you!!!”

Naomi tried to persuade them not to come with her.

Orpah agreed to not come with Naomi but Ruth did not agree.

In addition, Ruth told Naomi that she wanted to be Jew!! she wants to convert!

When they arrived at “Bet Lehem” the people could not recognize Naomi. In the Past Naomi looked well, she was rich, and now she is poor and unhappy…  

So Naomi told them that they would call her Mara and not Naomi. 

Because of the bad situation that Naomi and Ruth were in – Ruth collected wheat in Boaz’s field, To have food…

Naomi thought about how Boaz and Ruth could get married… How can she match them..?

Naomi advised Ruth to sleep near Boaz when he slept in the field.

So Ruth did it.

When Boaz woke up, Ruth asked  him to marry her. 

After a short time (And some halakhic complications;) ), Ruth and Boaz married!!!

–THE END–

We admire Ruth the Moabite and think She is a special woman.

Ruth is a widow who can leave her mother-in-law and go back to her father’s house, like Orpah. But she decided to join Naomi and help her.

We think she has important values as a woman: she is modest and shows compassion for Naomi, she doesn’t abandon the older Neomi, but rather comes to a foreign place that she doesn’t know.

In addition, Ruth was David’s great grandmother even though she wasn’t originally jewish. this is a great honor.

Accepting the Torah for us is a big and important historical event.

Everyday we work the Torah and usually do mitzvot without attention! The Torah is our life!

We count fifty days from Pesach until Shavuot – accepting the Torah.

We are very excited in this part of the year, and everyday we are waiting for  “accepting the Torah”.