What we can learn from Yom HaMeyuchas

There is a holiday coming up this Shabbat called Yom HaMeyuchas, “The Day of Distinction.” What makes it a special day and what can we learn from it?

Yom HaMeyuchas takes place on the second of Sivan, the day after Rosh Chodesh and the day before the Shloshet Yemei Hagbala, the three days of preparation for receiving the Torah leading up to Shavuot.

Since the second of Sivan is sandwiched between all of these important days, the rabbis didn’t want to leave this one day out. In order to make this day feel special as well, they gave it a special name.

Just as the rabbis were concerned about not hurting the feelings of a calendar date, not wanting to leave the second of Sivan out, how much more so should we be concerned about not alienating our fellow Jews.

Yom HaMeyuchas is also significant because it is associated with the day when the nation answered as one (Shmot 19:8) “Whatever God told us we will do.”

The nation was united and they were willing to take on the commandments. For those reasons alone, we deserve an extra holiday!

When we hear the word Meyuchas, it sounds like the word “yichus” which we usually translate as lineage. Often when a person is in the process of dating, they ask about what the yichus is of their future partner. But in the end, it doesn’t matter so much what the lineage is like, it is more important to make sure that the person is the right match. This is an important message especially now during the wedding season.

As we prepare for Shavuot, we should keep all of the lessons that can be learned from Yom Hameyuchas in mind: Widen your circles and become more inclusive to make sure that nobody is left out, work on keeping the Jewish people united, especially during these difficult times, reaffirm your commitment to Judaism and don’t discriminate against people because of their family lineage.

This week, the Knesset approved Yom HaAchdut, Unity Day as an official holiday. Yom HaAchdut has been celebrated for ten years in memory of the three boys who were kidnapped and murdered in 2014, Naftali Frankel, Gilad Shaer and Eyal Yifrach. This year, Yom HaAchdut will be celebrated on Sunday, the third of Sivan and there will be 500 activities to join around Israel that will promote unity.

How appropriate that we will officially celebrate unity, which is so desperately needed, on the day following Yom HaMeyuchas, the original day of unity.