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Harvey Belovski, rabbi at Golders Green United Synagogue:

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Late last night, Jews across the world finished the early-summer harvest festival of Shavuot, known in English as Pentecost.听 It celebrates the day 鈥� some 3300 years ago 鈥� when God gave Moses and the Israelites the 10 Commandments on Mount Sinai.

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Every year in the synagogue, on the first morning of the festival, we reread the amazing story in the book of Exodus.听 And when the reader reaches the climax 鈥� the 10 Commandments themselves, everyone stands, and we imagine ourselves back at Mount Sinai, renewing our commitment to Judaism and Jewish life.

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But the focus of Shavuot is learning Jewish texts and ideas 鈥� Torah study.听 In many communities, people study through the night of the festival in pairs, explaining, dissecting and arguing over Hebrew texts.听 In our synagogue, we offer a series of big-name lectures, combined with single malt and cheesecake for those who cannot survive the night without continuous nourishment.

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The experience is exhausting as it is exhilarating, but there鈥檚 nothing like that short walk home from the synagogue at 6.00am on Shavuot morning.听 The roads are empty, the birds are singing, and I feel that I鈥檝e renewed our relationship with God and my faith.

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Although Judaism doesn鈥檛 really go in for renewing vows, Shavuot is as close as we get.听 The ancient rabbis envisaged the experience at Mount Sinai as a kind of an engagement or wedding celebration for God and the Jewish people.听 If so, Shavuot is the anniversary of the start of a complex, but wonderful marriage that has stood the test of time.

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This idea was particularly meaningful for me and my family this Shavuot, as our eldest Michali has just announced her engagement to a lovely guy called Yoav.听 Our family, friends and community have been extremely generous in their good wishes and we are looking forward to celebrating with all of them at the engagement party later this week.听 I鈥檓 sure you will join me in wishing Michali and Yoav 鈥榤azal tov鈥� 鈥� a stream of wonderful blessings and every happiness together.

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We live in times when commitment is unfashionable, with beliefs exchangeable and relationships disposable.听 The festival of Shavuot and an idealistic young couple starting life together point to a different approach 鈥搇ong-term commitment leads to happiness and stability.

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