"You shall set boundaries for the People roundabout, saying, Beware of ascending the mountain or touching its edge; whoever touches the mountain shall surely die" (Shemot 19:12)

On the second and third days of Sivan, Hashem told Moshe to tell the Jewish People, "You have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I protected you by carrying you as if on the wings of eagles, to me. If you listen to me, and observe my covenant, you will be for me a treasure among the nations, for the whole world is Mine. And you will be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation! These are the things you should say to the Children of Israel." (Shemot 19:4-6)

When Moshe did that, the People of Israel responded "Everything that Hashem wants, we will do! (Shemot 19:8)

On the fourth day of the month, Hashem commanded that a boundary be established at the foot of the mountain, which should not be crossed all the time that Hashem's Presence would be there. To rise to the level of holiness required to hear the "Voice of G-d," they would need to immerse themselves and their clothes in a mikveh.

On the fifth day of Sivan, Moshe rose early in the morning and built an altar of twelve stones for the twelve tribes of Israel. He offered sacrifices and sprinkled their blood on the altar. He read everything that was already in the Torah to the People, to ascertain their agreement, and they responded, "Everything that Hashem wants, "Naaseh V'Nishma," "We will do, and afterwards we will understand!" (Shemot 24:7)

On the sixth day of Sivan, Moshe took the People out from the camp, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.

"And the mountain of Sinai was altogether in smoke because Hashem descended upon it in fire, and its smoke rose as the smoke of a furnace, and the people trembled greatly. And there was the sound of the Shofar increasing and increasing in intensity; Moshe would speak, and the L-rd would echo him in thunder!" (Shemot 19:18-19)

Hashem then told Moshe to warn the People again against breaking the barrier and approaching the mountain. Then Hashem came down to the People, and He spoke to them.

On the very first Shavuot, the Creator revealed Himself to Israel, as a nation, in a mass epiphany that briefly welded the 600,000 Jewish souls into one united consciousness. Briefly, each soul was concerned only for the well-being of the other 599,999 with no thought for itself. To stress the unity of this experience, the Torah describes Israel in the singular "VaYachan Mul HaHar" and "it" (rather than "they") camped opposite the mountain. A beautiful, rabbinical expression for this inner disposition is, "K'ish Echad, U'V'Lev Echad" (as one man with one heart). In this atmosphere of awe for the Creator and love for others, Israel accepted the Torah and the commandments, therein, unconditionally ("Na'asseh V'Nishma"), as its eternal law.

One of the most important implications of having received the Torah, unconditionally, is that it precludes personal initiative as regards the mitzvot. While it is true that we can all struggle to try and understand and interpret to our heart's content the reasons behind the mitzvot, we have all already accepted the Torah in its entirety as interpreted by the rabbis of each generation following the wisdom of the previous generation. Of course, as beings with free will, we still have the ability make our own decisions as to obeying or disobeying the Torah's commandments and accepting the consequences that go along with those choices.

Nevertheless, it is a shame that the holiday which celebrates that which gives us all the others, is the least observed. Though it is said that each Jewish soul past, present and future stood at the foot of Mt. Sinai and participated in the mysterious revelation on the first Shavuot, wouldn't it be wonderful to see all those souls return to shul this Shavuot for a revelation day reunion?