Magen Avot: Shavuot

The 27th of Iyar is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Shlomo Zalman Schneerson (1830-1900), Rebbe of of Kapust (Kopys) and author of Magen Avot: The 49 days of the Omer, from Pesach to Shavuot reflect the 49 ways we can look at each law in the positive or the negative. The positive reflects the attribute of Chesed, and the negative represents the perspective of Din. For example, God chose to destroy the world because man’s Yetzer, or creative drive is evil. And yet, after the flood, He swore to not bring another flood because man’s yetzer is evil from his youth. From Din’s perspective, it led to destruction. From Chesed it led to a promise of safety.

Everything can be looked at from this dual perspective on 49 levels. Shavuot, the fiftieth day, the 50th Gate of Binah, is when all perspectives are unified in the whole of Torah, and reflect the same truth.