Imagine what it might be like to stand at the base of a mountain in the company of every Jewish person who existed. You’ve just completed a grueling trek through the desert where, miraculously, manna (bread) fell from the sky every week, water wells appeared when you needed them, and a huge cloud protected you from the sun wherever you went.

Not long ago, you were a slave in Egypt. Do you remember what that felt like? Do you ever feel like a slave to your house and your family? Well, that’s nothing compared to the ceaseless work, the scarce food and the poor living conditions you experienced in Egypt.

Now, you are standing at the base of a mountain, waiting in anticipation for what is to be the beginning of the future of the Jewish people. There is a buzz of excitement, a fear for the unknown, and even a reassuring calm. Forget about the fact that G-d has already asked every other nation to accept the Torah as their own. Never mind that they all asked questions about what it contained and – when hearing the prohibitions – immediately said no thank you.

You are about to be a part of a People – a huge mass of people – who willingly accept the Torah without question. What are you doing as you stand there waiting? Comforting restless children? Looking around in awe? Laughing and joking with friends? Are you deep in contemplative thought? What does it mean to become spiritually liberated, and how will this Torah and its prohibitions bring you freedom?

According to the dictionary on my computer, spiritual means “relating to soul or spirit or to be connected by an affinity of the mind”. Perhaps, after traveling in the desert for so long together, this is what happened to the Jewish people. Liberation, according to the same dictionary means “gaining equal rights free from society imposed constraints or, simply, freedom”. We, the Jewish people, became one mind.

Or, what about redemption – another word for liberation – which is “saving and improving of something that has declined into a poor state”. After being slaves for so long, one can only imagine the devastated state we were in – individually and as a people.

So, G-d holds this mountain over our heads and says if we don’t accept what He has to give, the mountain will be our new burial place. After coming out of Egypt and traveling as far as we did, we sure weren’t going to let some mountain over our heads stop us. And, so, the Ten Commandments became Ours.

Today, we re-experience the receiving of the Torah during the holiday of Shavuot. The beginning of the Jewish people as a Nation. The festival begins with an all night Torah learning, and on the second day, the Book of Ruth is read. Ruth was the first to convert to Judaism, and through her experiences, we can learn much.

Ruth was the daughter in law to Naomi and Elimelech. In Moab, Naomi lost her husband and her two sons who were married but without children. Naomi was devastated by her loss and grief and decided to return to Bethlehem. Naomi told her daughter-in-laws to return to their families, but Ruth says “wherever you go, I will go; wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your G-d, my G-d” (Ruth 1:16).

This, perhaps, was the first illustration of the unique bond that exists between women and one of the many powerful lessons that Ruth gives to us. It is our connections with others that bring meaning to us – and when we can connect with another who shares the same values, devotion and faith, one might say that we have arrived “home”.

Back at home, Naomi introduced Ruth to Boaz. Ruth and Boaz were married. They had a son, Obed. Obed is the father of Jesse who is the father of David. When David becomes King, the Jewish people became united in a new way. David was a powerful warrior and a writer of many psalms we still read today.

The fact that David is a descendant of Ruth’s illustrates the integrity behind conversion and especially Ruth’s. It makes perfect sense that she has been honored with such a legacy. It is said that the Messiah will be a direct descendant of King David.

Shavuot and the reading of the Book of Ruth is a powerful time of the year. Its celebration brings several important messages that still ring true today. Bitterness and hardship can be turned to triumph through perseverance and faith. The powerful bonds of relationship are the basis for community and connection to something greater than ourselves. Those who convert to Judaism were there at Mount Sinai, accepting the Ten Commandments from G-d. Shavuot is a time for us to rededicate ourselves to our commitment from years ago.