They say that when Oscar Wilde heard an intelligent comment uttered by James Whistler (although I have heard it the other way too), he sighed and said, 'I wish I had said that'. To which Whistler replied (Or Wilde, depending on the version!) - 'You will, Oscar. You will!'

Isn't it annoying when you feel that you should have had something and you see someone else with it? A new car, a new contract, or even a good original joke...

...or the Torah. I mean, they were all offered it. I heard once that rather than us being the 'chosen nation', we should be called the 'choosing nation' - as the others had equal opportunities to accept it. Here we find the root of why Har Sinai got its name - a real hatred came into the world. A hatred and a jealousy.

Even the roots of the two words are similar - שנא and קנא - possibly the letter difference (200 in number alludes to the Talmudic dictum that 'he who has 100, wants 200') even points to the correlation between these two, which are also, it turns out, intertwined with love - see Dovid's relationship with Yonasan and Shaul. Very complicated indeed. Or Yosef and his brothers. The words 'hate' and 'envy' are constantly being employed - all because a third party had been displaying an apparent biased love.

What is the psychology behind this? Is it just human nature? And what can we take from this into our lives?

How long is this guy going to milk the post Shavuos thing for? Well - at least tonight (you never know - could be more). Yes, we're still coming down the mountain, but in a strange way - like Escher's impossible staircase - we keep finding ourselves at the top.

In fact, because we came down the mountain, we are more connected to others and affected - hopefully positively. And there's a massive chain reaction - we smile at another... hopefully that smile will be paid forward. You cannot avoid being affected by your surroundings - no man is an island, (even if Simon says) when all's said and Donne. (Yes - it was deliberate)

But check out how many chain reactions and knock-on effects we will find connected to Har Sinai, the Mishkan, the Beis Hamikdosh and the Sedra. And they all link...Just can't let go...

Have you ever done a good deed? Come on - there must have been something. How did it feel? I'm willing to bet that even if it was uncomfortable, it felt good to have done it. This is true in 99% of cases.

I believe that this is the secret of a phrase that I had never quite understood...until now - שכר מצוה מצוה - the reward of a Mitzva is another Mitzva. Try telling that to your teenage child! But if you begin to realise that the feel good factor - be it because of the adrenalin, endorphins, dopamine, whatever - the fact is, it feels good....so you want to do it again. So yes please, another Mitzva - another kind act. Another simple smile - it's free and will make you, as well as the recipient feel good.

“If someone is too tired to give you a smile, leave one of your own, because no one needs a smile as much as those who have none to give.” The wise words of R' Shimshon Raphael Hirsch.

A smile is infectious and addictive. Keep listening to the end. Try the exercise mentioned and see if it doesn't work...your money back if it doesn't...

As we struggle to stop Shavuos becoming but a distant memory, we need to learn how to remain connected to the source. Earlier in our series, we discussed the concept of having roots and wings. The ultimate success in this respect, would be to have our roots in the very source of our identity, whilst yet being able to live and breathe in the world around us.

Sounds an impossible task - to remain in an elevated state, yet grounded at the same time. 

The key is the beloved A to Z. In an age of Satnavs and the like, we have lost the art of poring over a map to work out the Waze in which we wish to go. But if the satellite connection goes, we need to go back to our root to keep on the correct route.

There is a deep secret embedded in the sedra that follows Shavuos. That secret is a number. It is a number which represents the entirety of the Written and Oral Torah. I can only reveal part of it in this podcast. Suffice it to say, that the idea is enough to blow you away. So fasten your seatbelts and get out your A to Z...

After the Lord Mayor's show...post Shavuos - are we just left with the crumbs from the oft-joked about cheesecake? Interesting that one of the reasons for eating it, is the reference to a mountain of 'Gavnunim' - etymologically similar to the word for cheese. We have spoken previously about the symbolism of milk (GC#43 - So Long and Thanks for All The Fish), so I guess it is not so surprising.

But I think that the motif of a mountain is not an accident either. Nor is the fact that Har Sinai was 'neither tall nor wide' as the popular song goes. I feel that it is more than being about humility. Therein lies an idea that life has its challenges, but not so steep that they are insurmountable. Pun intended.

And further, what will you do when you reach the top? Is your interest piqued? Or has it peaked? You have two choices...after all it is the month of Sivan - the Mazel of Teomim - twins... I dedicate this shiur to those whose month this is...

Just when you thought that I'd finished...

Day 50 - or kind of...the Possuk tells us that there the people went out 'chamushim'. That either means 'armed' or 'a fifth' or 'a fiftieth'. What is this all about?

That number 50 is not random. Let's have a look a look and see if it's telling us something about how we are meant to approach this auspicious day...

I've been waiting 7 weeks for this one! The culmination of all your hard work - all your efforts. The picture is complete and you are ready to accept the Torah. Or are you?

How have we changed since day one, if at all? Do we feel closer now to Hashem? If not, you might start worrying that it's all been a waste of time. But remember - you can spend time preparing the flour, from the grinding and sifting all the way through to the final product. But try eating it as flour...actually - don't.

Once you have everything, then you bake it and you can enjoy it.

Yes, we have completed 48 components of Torah, but they still need to be put together on day 49 to reveal true greatness. That is Malchus sheb'malchus - a total revelation of Who is running the show, and Who we will meet on Shavuos. His earthly representative, Dovid  - who died on Shavuos - understood this perhaps better than anyone. So much so, that the Gemoro relates that when G-d asks who will lead the Bentsching (i.e. recognition of the Source of all) at the future meal for Tzaddikim, it is Dovid who gets the job. He raises the goblet of wine to bless Hashem in His full Glory.

L'Chaim!

Funny title to give - right at the end of the Omer. What is meant by a game? Amongst the various dictionary definitions is: 1. 'an activity that one engages in for amusement or fun', and 2. a complete episode or period of play, ending in a final result. 

So it seems particularly strange that when discussing the lofty concepts of how G-d runs the world, Dovid states: לויתן זה יצרת לשחק בו - 'This Leviathan that You created to play with'. G-d plays games now?

This word though, שחק or play and its partner צחק or laughter, occur many times in Tenach. We have already dealt at length (if you can call it that with ten minute podcasts) regarding Yitzchok. But it plays a crucial part too in understanding the roles of Yosef and Dovid in the Messianic endgame. 

Tonight is the final ingredient of the 48 ways to acquire Torah, get closer to Hashem, and become attuned with our true selves. 48 is the מח- the brain - the organ which, if we allow it to control our desires, frees us from our personal slavery of desires, and makes us a מלך as we have explained throughout this week... And, as you will see - it is this 48th piece of the jigsaw which brings the ultimate redemption.

We find ourselves in the strangest of situations. On the one hand, because of technology, we have never found it easier to connect with each other. It has been argued, that this is why the connections themselves do not actually go that deep. I'm afraid to say that the number of 'Facebook friends' that one has, is not a real indicator of any meaningful relationship.

On the other hand, that self-same technology has probably been the reason that many people have been kept from going insane in the current 'Twilight Zone' situation we are experiencing. It has allowed us to remain connected. Zoom, Google...this Podcast...

But ultimately, when discussing real connection, we mean having a feeling for, a longing for that Other. This is the Dveikus that we have been exploring in the context of the Omer, as we strive to get closer to Hashem before Shavuos. And our exemplar is Rus. She models connection in a unique way.

And on day 47, we are further represented by two pardigms of connecting Heaven and earth, G-d and His people. Aharon - the connector through peace and Kehuna; and Dovid - the king who unifies the people - the only way to be a real king. A king who is the earthly representative of the King of Kings of Kings...

Will we learn to unify all of our disparate parts to be part of that royal family?

Today, we find a connection between one action with two very different implications. When you throw a goodbye kiss to a parent or beloved relative, you are expressing that you will miss them and still connect to them, even though you may not see them for a while. Even the root of the hebrew word is נשק - which means variously to be attached (תשוקה), sustained (with Yosef - ועל פיך ישק כל עמי) or kiss. All imply a longing, a connection, a caring.

Dveikus.

So when we are told that Orpah kissed Naomi and left, whilst Rus clung to her, it just seems like two different levels - Orpah nearly made it, and Rus was just slightly better. Well done Orpah - you get a runners-up medal.

On closer examination, we realise that this was a different kiss. Orpah - as her name indicates, turned her back (ערף means the nape/back of the neck) on Naomi. Hence the midrashim which describe her return to Moav - a place of the loosest morals - in disturbing terms.

Moshe - who received an apparent kiss of death, expresses the opposite. He remains attached and we live by the Torah that he was the conduit for, 3332 years ago. That same Torah, that Rus decided to cling to. Rus, the mother of Royalty. Yet King David described himself as, 'I, your servant, son of your maidservant'. The maidservant?

Rus.