If you answered food, you are not alone. As a matter of fact, most people associate holidays with food.  Even Yom Kippur, the holiest of Holy-days, is associated with food (albeit in a negative sense).

The origin of this practice -- the association of holidays with food -- can be traced back to the Torah where G-d commands us to be joyous on holidays. Now since food is a key enjoyment factor -- from business lunches to leisure cruises, we are always excited over food -- it is no surprise that we celebrate our holidays in part (some times in large part) by eating.

What is surprising is that out of all the holidays, the one you would think should have the least emphasis on food actually is the most associated with it. Incidentally, it is also the least famous of the holidays, and surprisingly so -- not only because of the food, but more importantly, due to the cause of the holiday and its connection with whom we are. It is the holiday of Shavuot, on which G-d gave us the Torah.

Even Yom Kippur, the holiest of Holy-days, is associated with food (albeit in a negative sense)

Food is so important to this holiday, that on Shavuot in addition to the four regular meals (over the course of two days) -- each containing a fish course and meat course, and all that comes with it -- traditionally there is also a fifth meal. As an extra treat we add a dairy meal featuring any or all of the following: cheesecake, lasagna, cheese blintzes, and ice cream.

Now I know the sound of this already tastes good, but as food for thought, does it really make sense?

Imagine a rabbi saying the following: “Today is the holiday on which we received that which is most dear to our people. Life should revolve around it. Smart choices are influenced by it. It is studied, examined, and explored. It is found in books, on CDs and made into movies. It is revered, sanctified and glorified. It is the Torah! And so, ladies and gentleman, now that you’ve heard the Ten Commandments, go home and eat cheesecake!” -- You can’t imagine it? Well, you don’t have to; our rabbis actually said it.

Whilst the above gives insight into the specific choice of food, it does not answer our general question how something as corporal as food plays such a key role on a holiday celebrating something so refined as the Torah.

The answer is that Torah is not about spirituality. It is about Divinity. And the Divine is not limited to spirituality, rather it can also be found in physicality. As a matter of fact, the entire purpose of the Torah and the Jewish people is to reveal the divine in the physical.

Torah is not about spirituality. It is about Divinity

Thus to properly celebrate the giving of the Torah it is not enough to hear the Ten Commandments; one must make the Torah an actual part of daily life, and more so, a part of oneself. Now since "you are what you eat," through eating Kosher, saying a blessing, and eating for the purpose of celebrating a glorious moment in our relationship with our Creator, we are incorporating the sacred teachings of the Torah into our physical being.

The sermon you hear from your rabbi you might leave in the synagogue, but as for the cheesecake that is an entirely different story. You tasted it, digested it and became one with it; that goes for the cheesecake, and through it, the Torah. You have put G-d’s word into your physical existence.

Now wherever you go and what ever you do, you do as a Jew. You sleep as a Jew, walk as Jew, take classes as a Jew, and even vacation as a Jew. For after all, when G-d gave us the Torah, he didn’t just put it in a scroll, he put G-dliness in everything around us, down to the food we eat.

Unwrap it, and dig in. (I know you’re thinking the cake, but don’t forget the Scroll).