Shavuot is, in the words of David Hartman, a day of meditation, a holiday of learning, in which Jews truly become the People of the Book.    Shavuot is the antithesis to passivity, Rabbi Hartman says. It is a holiday of covenantal renewal, of listening and standing at Sinai, of becoming a people of the commandments, a commanded people called upon to fulfill their task in history.   But we also live in the modern world. Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman says Jewish tradition speaks through the language and imagery revelation, while modernity rarely gives itself to the claim of revelation. Do religion and God function within their own private discourse of ethics and rationality? Is our job to watch and follow and learn what is good and true; or is the fact that God loves something make it good and true?   These are the questions modern Jews must wrestle with, Donniel says.   In that spirit, we offer this special content section, in which Institute scholars explore questions of pluralism, revelation, modernity, and more.   Shavuot is also one of the most important days of the year at Shalom Hartman Institute, as we are dedicated to learning yearround, and this holiday is an opportunity to share that with the general public both in Israel and now, online.     If you are in Israel, please come to the evening, early morning and Shavuot day lectures from Institute scholars and distinguished guests. Find a complete listing of the Institute's  Tikkun Leil Shavuot lectures here. This year's subject is "Ethics, Judaism, and War," and features David Hartman, Donniel Hartman, Avi Sagi, Biti Roi and others.   If you cannot come to the lectures – and even if you can – we have prepared an extensive set of essays, educational materials, videos and more for you on our website from Noam Zion, David Hartman, Baruch Frydman-Kohl, Rachel Sabath-Beit Halachmi and others.   Read these articles and learn a pluralistic interpretation of the giving of Torah at Sinai: Can later rabbinic creativity transcend its origins: Moshe v. Akiva in the Talmud Torah not contradicted by multiple applications Jewish law’s ideal state and pragmatic state First day, last commandment by Baruch Frydman-Kohl Pluralism voiced by classical sources  Essays and commentary on Megillat Ruth: Laws of pe'ah and leket: Hesed and the Jewish way of life toward the poor, widow, and stranger Megillat Ruth and 'Matan Torah' to the world To be ‘remaindered’: Book of Ruth’s Naomi as mourner Video and audio programming Revelation, Modernity, and New Forms of Prayer: Rabbi Rachel Sabath Beit-Halachmi Revelation and Modernity: Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman Torah From Heaven - Rabbinic Interpretations of Sinai: Moshe Halbertal Three Models of Torah, on Celebrating Shavuot: Rabbi Rachel Sabath Beit-Halachmi Ways of Remembering Sinai - Part 1: Melilah Hellner-Eshed Ways of Remembering Sinai - Part 2: Melilah Hellner-Eshed When we stand anew at Sinai and listen to the Ten Commandments on the holiday of Shavuot, we are given a new opportunity to take responsibility for history. Take that responsibility upon yourself by learning of the Jewish tradition and future.