We are beginning Masechta Shavuous. There is a custom to learn Maseches Shavuous during Sefira. Sefer Daf al Daf in his Introduction brings down a number of insights about this. Notably, there are 49 dappim in the mashechta, corresponding to the 49 days of the Omer, and the Chasam Sofer was careful to teach a sugya in shavuos every day of the Omer. Even more interesting, there is a custom to learn daf 34 on Lag Baomer, (as it really is the 33rd page, sincere we start pagination on page two.) On that page there is a dispute between Rav Shimon Bar Yochai (who passed away on Lag Baomer) whereby his colleagues “laughed”. The Zhidichoiver Rebbe said this was to emphasize that even the great and holy Rav Shimon Bar Yochai could not vanquish the Angel of Death, who apparently has the last laugh on all of us.
The idea of Shavuous and oaths are connected to the giving of the Torah because God made a covenant and oath with our forefathers, as well as the Jewish people having done so at Har Sinai. It is possible that in every analysis of the various legal forms and obligations of oaths, we might find an aspect of spiritual commitment. It would be an interesting study, but I will not attempt that right now. (As an example of some of the possibilities, see Chaim V’chessed 182.)
Not that all derashos and gematrios always perfectly align, but I will nonetheless ask: If we established that actually page one does not exist, so page 34 is really page 33 which corresponds to Lag Baomer, how do we account for 49 days of Sefirah, since we only have 48 pages? I believe the answer to this is that the missing daf is the final page of Makkos, which discusses the giving of the Torah, which is an obvious sequitur to sefira.
Translations Courtesy of Sefaria, except when, sometimes, I disagree with the translation
If you liked this, you might enjoy my Relationship Communications Guide. Click on the link above.
Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, LCSW-R, DHL is a psychotherapist who works with high conflict couples and families. He can be reached via email at simchafeuerman@gmail.com