The Joy of Matan Torah
Chazal (Pesachim 68:) say, "All opinions agree that one needs to enjoy [good food] on Shavuos because on this day the Torah was given to the Jewish nation." Rashi explains, "He should be happy with food and drink to show that he is happy with this day that the Torah was given."
The Gemara relates that Rav Yosef asked his family to prepare the best meats for Shavuos. Rav Yosef explained, "If it weren't for this day, there are many Yosefs in the marketplace." Rashi explains, "If it wasn't for this day that enabled me to learn Torah and to become exalted, there are many other people in the market whose name is Yosef, and what difference would there be between us?"
Maaseh Rav writes, "The Vilna Gaon zt'l was very happy on Shavuos, more than any other yom tov, and he put good foods on his table..."
In Kiddush and in Shemoneh Esrei we say, הלשונות מכל ורוממתנו. Rebbe Bunim of Peshischa zt'l translated the words as follows: הלשונות מכל, all expressions of all languages won't suffice to express רוממתנו, how holy we became. No language is rich enough, and no prose is talented enough to describe the greatness Hashem granted Bnei Yisrael when He gave us the Torah.
Seder HaYom (Shavuos) describes the great joy of matan Torah. He writes, "One should be very happy on Shavuos because it's the day the Torah was given to Bnei Yisrael... One's body should rejoice because one uses his body to study Torah and to perform the mitzvos... And the neshamah rejoices when it understands Torah because the neshamah's joy is solely learning Torah and keeping the mitzvos."
The Seder HaYom elaborates on all the good we receive even in this world from matan Torah. He writes, "We aren't fools who don't recognize all this honor that Hashem gave us. The nations of the world turn to their avodah zarahs that can't help them, but this isn't the lot of Bnei Yisrael. Hashem watches over us always. Hashem loves us due to our forefathers and because of His love for the precious, perfect Torah that He implanted in our midst. The Torah is Hakadosh Baruch Hu's daughter... Whoever will marry and love His daughter, Hashem will certainly grant him a dowry of lots of money, and nothing will be lacking."
This Seder Hayom teaches us many beautiful lessons. Hashem loves the avos hakadoshim, He loves the Torah, and therefore, He loves us endlessly because we are descendants of the avos and we study Torah. The goyim turn to their avodah zarahs, which don't help them, but Hashem loves the Jewish nation, and He therefore watches over us constantly. He concludes that just as a king will give wealth and royalty to the person who marries his daughter, the King will give wealth, royalty, etc. to the Jewish people who study Torah, which is Hashem's daughter.
This final idea can be compared to a wealthy person who interviews a young man to see whether he is a suitable match for his only daughter. In the middle of the conversation, the bachur asks, "If I marry your daughter, how much money will you give me?"
The wealthy father replies, "I heard that you are a wise bachur, but I see that you aren't wise. My daughter is my only child, and I am extremely wealthy. Obviously, you will receive a lot of money from me. So why do you ask for a dowry?"
The nimshal is that the Torah is Hashem's daughter. Whoever studies and cherishes the Torah will receive everything he needs. There will be wealth, and nothing will be lacking.
