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category:  Holidays

Should children and women come to the synagogue on Shavuot to hear the Ten Commandments?

The Rav Name: Rabbis of the Da’at Institute
  • Question

Shavuot is coming, and i would like to know if also children and women have to come to the synagogue to hear the ASERET HA DIBROT, or is it only for men?

  • Answer

Children and women are not obligated by the letter of the law to attend the Torah reading of the Ten Commandments on the festival of Shavuot, however the Lubavitcher Rebbe strongly recommends that they do. The reasons include the fact that when we go to hear the Torah reading of the Ten Commandments on Shavuot, we are spiritually reliving the experience of receiving the Torah, and this gives us spiritual strength for the coming year. 


Having Jews of all ages and stages present at this special time also reinforces the unity that was present at the original Giving of the Torah, when the Jews encamped at the foot of Mount Sinai “as one person with one heart.” Moreover, Jewish children are guarantors that the Torah will continue to be kept, studied, and transmitted, so their presence is even more important than that of the adults! 

 

Check out your nearest Chabad community reading of the Torah, where the children will receive a special treat for coming to hear the Ten Commandments! 

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