Choosing Judaism, Again and Again

By Jennifer K. Saber 

This year, Shavuot begins at sundown on Thursday, May 21, 2026.  As Jews around the world prepare to celebrate the giving of the Torah, the holiday invites us to reflect not only on what happened at Mount Sinai long ago, but also on what it means to engage with Jewish life today. 

Every year on Shavuot, Jews around the world celebrate the moment our ancestors stood together at Mount Sinai and received the Torah. According to tradition, this was not simply the giving of laws or commandments. It was the beginning of a covenant, a shared commitment to live lives guided by Jewish values, learning, and community.

But Shavuot is not only about what happened long ago at Sinai. It also asks each of us a very personal question: What does it mean to choose Judaism today?

What does it mean to choose Judaism today?

One of the reasons we read the Book of Ruth on Shavuot is because Ruth embodies this very idea. After Naomi’s husband and sons died, Naomi prepared to return home to Bethlehem and encouraged her daughters-in-law to remain in Moab and rebuild their lives. While Orpah stayed behind, Ruth refused to leave Naomi. Despite the uncertainty ahead, Ruth chose to journey with Naomi into an unfamiliar future and cast her lot with the Jewish people. She declared, “Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.”

Ruth chose belonging. She chose community. She chose an uncertain path rooted in loyalty, meaning, and faith.

Most of us do not make one dramatic declaration of Jewish commitment. Instead, we choose Judaism in quieter ways, over and over again. We choose it when we show up to a synagogue adult education class after a long day. We choose it when we light Shabbat candles, ask hard questions, learn something new, do a mitzvah, celebrate a holiday, comfort a friend, or make time for community. Judaism is often built not in grand moments, but through small, intentional acts repeated over time.

Ruth reminds us that Jewish identity is not only something we inherit. It is also something we nurture through commitment, learning, and acts of connection.

That is one of the beautiful ideas behind Chai Mitzvah. Jewish growth does not end when we become B’nai Mitzvah, nor does it happen automatically. It happens when we engage intentionally with Jewish life and continue to choose learning, connection, and meaning throughout our lives.

Jennifer Saber is the Manager of Community Engagement & Partnerships at Chai Mitzvah.