Shavuot is a Jewish holiday that takes place annually, fifty days and seven weeks after Passover. For this reason, Shavuot is also known as the “Feast of Weeks.” Shavuot or Shavuos means “weeks” and “oaths” in Hebrew. Shavuot is practiced as a two-day holiday within the Jewish diaspora and as a one-day holiday in Israel. The holiday is marked in the Hebrew calendar at sundown following the 5th of Sivan1 and lasts until nightfall on the 7th of Sivan. Similar to other Jewish holidays, Shavuot is marked by the lighting of candles before sundown.
Shavuot honours two observances. Shavuot recalls the receiving of the Torah and Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai three months after the Exodus from Egypt. This was a transitional moment in the Jewish peoples’ history when they received the divine laws from G-d2 and became His Chosen People over 3000 years ago. Shavuot is also associated with a spring harvest pilgrimage festival that was practiced by the ancient Israelites, who would provide offerings of their harvest at the Holy Temple, their first and choicest fruits, and two wheat loaves. To remind of the offering of two loaves, it is the custom of some families to eat two Shavuot meals. The first meal is a dairy meal, and after a specified period (at least an hour), a meat meal. When the Jewish people received the Torah, they were bound to the laws requiring them to keep kosher. Due to the Israelites receiving the Torah on Shabbat, no meat could be slaughtered that day, and no utensils could be made kosher. For this reason, they ate dairy that day. Blintzes, cheese, cheesecakes, quiches, ice cream, and casseroles are commonly eaten on this holiday. The Torah is also metaphorically likened to nourishing milk in the Jewish tradition.
This holiday is observed by studying the Torah, reading the Book of Ruth, eating dairy-based foods, and abstaining from work to focus on introspection and holiday observances. Tikkun Leil Shavuot refers to the tradition on the first night of Shavuot to study traditional Jewish texts and the Torah overnight. Many have the custom of decorating their homes and synagogues with flowers and fragrant plants. Pre-20th century, Ashkenazi3 communities would adorn their homes with papercuts, known as shevuoslakh (or shavuosl) and royzalakh (or raizelach).
We wish all those celebrating a Chag Shavuot Sameyach or a Happy Shavuot.