My In Laws are Coming to Lakewood for Shavuos

As is the time-honored custom, my in-laws are coming to us for Shavuos, and we are getting ready to host them. I say we, although my wife is of course dealing with the brunt of the work, cleaning and cooking until the wee hours of the morning.

(I just have to provide the emotional support. )

Watching her slave away is heartbraking. This is the only Yom Tov that she makes (unless you count Rosh Hashana) and the signs of her hard work are everywhere. The recipes, menus, baking, cooking, consulting with friends, it goes on and on.

The fact is, these Yom Tov preparations is a killer for her. She comes home from work drained at 5:00 after a full day of teaching. She can only begin to really prepare for Yom Tov after all the kids are sleeping and the supper dishes are cleaned away. She then drags herself again into the kitchen to prepare for the upcoming arrival of the Yom Tov guests.

Somehow, I feel a bit guilty. They are her parents, but why does she get stuck with all the work. I come home after night seder at 10:15, and I am free to go. But her work continues into the wee hours of the night, notwithstanding the fact that she wakes up at 7:00 so she can be out the door on time.

I know that we celebrate matan Torah on Shavuos, but this year – even as a full-time kollel yungerman – a pang of guilt will be hanging over that celebration.

And I am not fully convinced that it is only the yetzer hora…

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Filed Under: Going to Work

Tags: in-laws • lakewood • shavuos preparations