Shavous - Ruth Part 1: Why Do We Read It On Shavuos ?

About this episode

Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Zt'l discusses the significance of reading Megilas Rus on Shavuos and the themes of kindness and gratitude within the Torah.

Shiur from Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Ztl on שבועות, on the topic of Megilas Rus. Discussed: Unlike the other four Megilahs which are philosophical works or focus on the salvation/tragedy of the Jews on a national level, Rus is a simple story about one individual. Why was a Megillah written about her story and why read it on Shavuos? The Yalkut Shemoni writes that the point of Megillas Rus is to send only one message - the reward of people that do Chessed and are kind to others. Similarly Chazal say the Torah is wrapped in kindness since it starts with Hashem creating Chava at the beginning of creation so that Adam would have a companion and the Torah ends with Hashem burying Moshe (a Chessed Shel Emes). Why is this message of kindness so intertwined with the Torah and why is it so important to be driven home before Kabolas Hatorah? Why was the lack of kindness & gratitude from Moav such a bad trait that their descendants are not allowed to marry into Klal Yisroel, something that isn’t prohibited even from the descendants of Amalek, the arch-nemesis of the Jews! Yet, this is also precisely why the daughters were excluded from the ban.

People in this episode

Host: Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Zt'l

Topics covered

• Shavuos
• Megilas Rus
• kindness
• Torah
• Chessed
• gratitude

Keywords

• Shavuos
• Megilas Rus
• kindness
• Chessed
• Torah
• Moav
• Klal Yisroel
• Amalek

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Yalkut Shemoni, Chazal

Books & works: Megilas Rus

Places: Moav, Klal Yisroel, Amalek

More episodes of Time for Torah: By Rabbi Elimelech Kohn Zt"l

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• Parshas Shelach: Understanding the Failure of the Meraglim · June 9, 2026 · 1h 18m
• Parshas Be'halot'cha : The Power Of Faith · June 2, 2026 · 1h 33m
• Parshas Be'halot'cha: Pesach Sheni and the Charedi Mentality · June 2, 2026 · 1h 24m
• Parshas Be'halot'cha: The Infinite Ripple Effect of Teaching Torah · June 2, 2026 · 1h 20m
• Parshas Naso: כה תברכו - Supernatural Blessings · May 25, 2026 · 1h 26m