Last week Chabad’s Gan Israel summer camp started and during the five-week program, close to 40 children will be treated to a first-class experience of fun and entertainment permeated with Jewish pride, spirit, and learning. I am privileged to spend some time with the campers discussing the upcoming holiday of Shavuot.
A few days ago a bowl of goldfish was on their table so instead of sharing my planned spiel, I asked them if they could find a connection between fish and Shavuot. After hearing their creative answers I shared the following story about Rabbi Akiva.
Approximately 1900 years ago the evil Roman empire which ruled over the Land of Israel sought to destroy every vestige of Judaism by prohibiting the public teaching of Torah on penalty of death. At the time there were no printed books or even manuscripts of Torah scholarship and the only way Jewish scholarship thrived was through public lectures by the sages. Unfazed by the decree and passionate about passing on the Torah tradition to the next generation, Rabbi Akiva continued lecturing publicly to thousands of students. A shady fellow challenged Rabbi Akiva for ignoring the mortal threat. “Are we not obligated to preserve life at all costs?” he asked. “Perhaps you should stop lecturing publicly until the decree is annulled.” Rabbi Akiva answered him with a parable. A fox walking on the riverbank noticed the fish swimming frantically to and fro. “Why are you swimming so frantically” the fox asked one of the fish. “We are trying to swim away from the fisherman's net,” the fish replied. The wily fox saw an opportunity for a fine meal. “If you come up here next to me on the riverbank you won’t get caught in the net.” “For an animal with a reputation for wisdom you're quite the fool,” the fish said. “As long as I’m in the water I can survive despite the danger of the fisherman’s net. But if I leave the water I will certainly die!” Rabbi Akiva explained that a Jew with Torah is like a fish in water. Abandoning Torah to escape persecution was as false a choice as fish leaving the river to escape the fisherman’s net. On Tuesday night we will start celebrating 3,336 years from when we received our oxygen. On Shavuos we reestablish our commitment to the Torah which has kept us going for over three millennia. Notwithstanding many trials and tribulations, Torah has always been the lifeline of our nation and our relationship with it should reflect this fact. May we merit this year to receive the Torah joyfully and meaningfully.