All Jewish holidays represent different aspects of the Jewish people's relationship with G-d while Shavuos represents the relationship itself. Why is Shavuos also called "Atzeres" which means "holding back"? Why are there no special mitzvos associated with Shavuos? Why are Pesach and Sukkos seven days while Shavuos is only one day? These questions are answered by understanding Shavuos as a "blank check" between the Jewish people and G-d.

Rabbi Taub leads a farbrengen in honor of Lag B'Omer at the Baal Shem Tov Library in Flatbush.

Lag B'Omer is the day of passing of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai, author of the holy Zohar. As such, the day is fundamentally connected to the dissemination of the secrets of the Torah. Lag B'Omer is also "hod sheb'hod." What is the connection between the attribute of hod and the revelation of the inner dimension of the Torah?

This musical Lag B'Omer gathering with Rabbi Shais Taub and singer Eli Marcus took place in Morristown, NJ at the Rabbinical College of America's "Taste of Yeshiva" program for visiting college students. Among the subjects discussed were: the true definition of loving one's fellow and the lessons we can learn from the life of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai.

On the night when the Jewish people left Eygpt they were confined to their homes, as it says (Shemos 12:22) "No one shall leave the entrance of his house until morning." We can learn from this several important lessons applicable to current events.

Is Jewish identity collectivist or individualist? Are there no Jews without the Jewish people or no Jewish people without Jews? The first mitzvah performed by the Jewish people, the korban Pesach, holds the answer.

Rabbi Shais Taub share some of his favorite ideas from the Haggadah. Part 2 of 2.