Happy Yom HaMeyuchas!

You don’t know what Yom HaMeyuchas is, do you?

It’s OK. Most people don’t.

“Yom HaMeyuchas” literally means “the special day.” It developed in connection to the historical events taking place during the first week of Sivan leading to the giving of the Torah at Sinai.

The Torah states that the Jewish nation arrived at Sinai on the first day of the third month. This is 1 Sivan. The Torah also mentions three days of preparation for the Sinai experience, which we call the “Shloshet Yemei Hagbalah.” The Torah was given after those three days.

So, the first of Sivan is special (Rosh Chodesh). 3-5 Sivan are special days of preparation. How about poor, lonely 2 Sivan? Rabbi Yechiel Michel Epstein explains that we turn 2 Sivan into something special.

“In fact, the day between Rosh Chodesh Sivan and the Three Days of Preparation is also celebratory. Furthermore, this is the day Moshe told the nation to sanctify themselves. The practice is to call this day ‘Yom HaMeyuchas.’”

It seems like there is, in fact, nothing special about Yom HaMeyuchas. The Sages, in their great sensitivity, were concerned for the feelings of units of time like days. This is an extension of the sensitivity the sages showed towards the feelings of objects as demonstrated by our covering the challahs so as not “to embarrass” them by saying Kiddush first. The second of Sivan wasn’t special like the first, third, fourth, and fifth, so they assigned a name to the day to “cheer it up.” The lesson for us is sensitivity.

Other explanations have been suggested for why we commemorate the day.

Yom HaMeyuchas is a day of distinction. 2 Sivan was the date the Jews made the famous declaration of “Na’aseh v’nishma – We will obey, and we will listen.” This acceptance of God’s mission is a big deal. According to the Midrash, other nations were offered the Torah but refused it for it crimping their style for one reason or another. They wouldn’t abide by “one God,” “no stealing,” or “honor parents.” The Jews accepted sight unseen. We knew it was an offer not to be refused. The anniversary of this declaration deserved recognition as a Yom HaMeyuchas.

It is also a day for us to distinguish ourselves. The word “meyuchas” has the same root as the word “yichus,” which means lineage. Often, this word is used in the context of matchmaking. Jewish traditional sources prize coming from a noble, respected, learned, pious family. Yom HaMeyuchas is a reminder that all Jews have yichus, a special, exalted lineage that comes from being Jewish as well as the opportunity to chart our own path based on our own actions.

Yom HaMeyuchas also provides a fundamental lesson about Jewish unity and diversity.

On the one hand, we prize Jewish unity and see it as having been a prerequisite to receiving the Torah. When the nation arrives at Sinai, the Sages learn they were “k’ish echad b’lev echad – as one people with one heart.” On the other hand, the second half of that rabbinic teaching is that all subsequent stops featured plenty of disputes.

The second of Sivan was part of the dispute in the Talmud over the exact timeline of Sinai. The Sages dispute what happened each day of Sivan and even disagree over whether the Torah was given on the 6^th or 7^th of the month! We declared a Yom HaMeyuchas to testify to the existence of machloket, disagreement. Jews must be united in our commitment to Torah and each other, but there will be machloket. And that’s ok.

Yom HaMeyuchas is a day created to highlight the value of sensitivity, the distinction of the Jewish nation in accepting the covenant, the ability of each of us to distinguish ourselves, and to celebrate the differences that underlie our shared commitments. The date itself matters far less than the timely and important sentiments we can attach to it.

This week, the Knesset approved Yom HaAchdut, National Unity Day, as an official holiday “to mark and promote social cohesion and mutual responsibility within Israeli society and the Jewish people in Israel and in the Diaspora.” (Another day we haven’t heard of!) The date chosen was 1 Sivan, the day the Jews arrived at Sinai united. The explanatory note to the National Unity Day Bill states:

“The diversity of cultures, communities and identities that make up the State of Israel is part of its beauty. However, this diversity could spark differences and division. There is a mounting need to bring people closer together and to connect between different populations, sectors and groups , including a need to safeguard the integrity and resilience of this multifaceted society with its diversity of opinions. The value of unity is a supreme value in a properly-run society in general, and in Israeli society in particular."​

I am not sure how this Yom HaAchdut will be celebrated. Nevertheless, as is the case with Yom HaMeyuchas, this is exactly the season to recall how special we are, how united we can be despite our disagreements, and how this is the week – from Rosh Chodesh through Shavuot – that changed everything. I’d call that very meyuchas (special).