Q: Why do we say Akdamus on Shavuos?
A: On Shavuos we received the Torah. Now, the Akdamus portrays how the nations of the world are proposing to us that we should go along with them and we’ll share together with them the greatness that they promise us. And we say to them, “No matter what you’ll give us, it’s nothing compared to the greatness that Hashem already gave us.”
There’s no greater happiness than Matan Torah. The greatest gift that Hashem can give, that’s the gift of all gifts.
Of course, one gift is more important. That’s the gift of life; that’s something else. But life and Torah is the same thing – Toras Chaim. You can’t learn Torah if you’re not alive. The gift of life and Torah, that’s the gift.
The nations have nothing to offer us. And even though they promised us the highest rewards for coming with them, it’s nothing at all compared to what we have.
And therefore, the Akdamus come to emphasize, what is the great happiness of Shavuos? The happiness is that Hakadosh Baruch Hu did for us what He never did for anybody else. That’s the biggest of all possible gifts that He could give – everlasting life. Because Torah means everlasting life. Torah means Olam Haba. It’s so important to realize what a happiness Torah is.
