6301 —שבועות, זמן מתן תורה, ותזמון החג

B"H, 9 Sivan, 5718.

Brooklyn.

Haraha"g vavac"h iy"a nu"n etc. Shaul Yissachar Bik

Shalom u'Vrachah!

After a long pause, your letter from Yom HaMeyuchas was received. At an auspicious time I will mention you and your wife at the holy resting place of my father-in-law, the Rebbe zatzal. Regarding the content of your letter—may it be G‑d's will that you share good news in this matter.

We have just come from Shavuos, Zman Matan Toraseinu (the time of the giving of our Torah), about which it is said: "Charut al haLuchos—do not read charut (engraved), but cheirut (freedom), freedom from all confusing matters." May you share good news in both revealed and spiritual goodness.

Blessings for good tidings.

P.S. Regarding what you noted about the Alter Rebbe’s pure table at Siman Taf Tzadi Dalet in his commentary on why we say on Shavuos "Zman Matan Toraseinu"—because according to our calculation Shavuos always falls on the sixth of Sivan, which is when the Torah was given. You questioned this based on the Yerushalmi at the end of tractate Rosh Hashanah that interprets a verse in the Torah as alluding to Shavuos being Zman Matan Torah. It is clear that your objection is not against the Alter Rebbe but against reality itself—as Chazal explicitly say that sometimes Shavuos falls on the fifth of Sivan. In such years there would seemingly be no reason to call it Zman Matan Torah—even according to what Maharal of Prague writes (in Tiferes Yisrael ch. 27) as you quoted—since according to all opinions when Shavuos falls on the fifth of Sivan, that fiftieth day of counting is not actually Zman Matan Torah. And Chazal explicitly say that sometimes it does fall on the fifth. Therefore, we must say that what Yerushalmi says is only an asmachta (a supportive hint), since everything must be hinted at in the Torah.

Similarly, we must answer an even stronger question than you raised: It is often brought that offering two loaves on Shavuos represents "Lechu lachmi b'lachmi" (Come eat my bread with my bread)—the giving of the Torah—and yet these two loaves are offered even when Shavuos falls on the fifth of Sivan.

Summary

The Rebbe explains how calling Shavuos "Zman Matan Torah" fits even when its date does not match exactly with when the Torah was given. The deeper meaning and traditions remain consistent regardless of calendar variations.