Beginning on the 6th of the month of Sivan, Shavuot is the
third of the three pilgrimage festivals when the Israelites were enjoined to offer
as a sacrifice a tithe of their produce. Shavuot is celebrated at the conclusion
of the counting of the Omer, seven weeks (hence its name, which is Hebrew for
"weeks") after Passover.
Note:
"And you shall count for yourselves from the morrow after
the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the Omer of the wave offering; seven
complete sabbaths shall there be, to the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall
you number fifty days..." (Leviticus 23:15-16). In
English, Shavuot is called Pentecost, meaning fiftieth (i.e., the fiftieth day
after Passover). The interpretation of the words "on the morrow of the Sabbath"
was a subject of controversy between the Pharisees and the Sadducees (sects during
the second Temple period); the interpretation of the former has been accepted,
i.e., the Sabbath refers to the first day of Passover.
In
the Bible, the holiday is also called Hag ha-Kazir (Harvest Festival)
as it coincides with the end of the barley harvest and the beginning of the
wheat harvest. Another name is Hag ha-Bikkurim (Festival of the
First Fruits) because on this day the first fruits of the wheat harvest were
brought to the Temple in Jerusalem.
Note:
The Mishnah (compiled 2nd cent.) gives a vivid description
of how the first fruits were brought to the Temple on this festival, to the
accompaniment of singing and dancing, the playing of instruments and beating
of drums (Mishnah Bikkurim 3).
In addition to its agricultural significance, the holiday has
a religious significance as the day of the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai.
This holiday thus becomes a time for affirming the acceptance of religious obligations
and of reaffirming our covenant with God.
Shavuot is celebrated for two days in the Diaspora and for one day among Reform
Jews and in Israel.In addition to its agricultural significance, the holiday
has a religious significance as the day of the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai.
This holiday thus becomes a time for affirming the acceptance of religious obligations
and of reaffirming our covenant with God.
Shavuot is celebrated for two days in the Diaspora and for one day among Reform
Jews and in Israel.
In the synagogue
The
home and synagogue are customarily decorated with flowers, plants, and greenery,
reflecting the agricultural aspect of the festival. Hallel (Psalms of Praise)
is recited at the morning services. The experience of divine revelation at Sinai
is relived by reading a special Torah reading, which describes the people's
receiving the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19 and 20). On the second
day, the reading (Deut. 15:19-16:17) includes a description of the three pilgrimage
festivals - Sukkot, Passover and Shavuot.
On the first day of Shavuot, a special liturgical poem (Akdamut)
praising God's majesty, is recited at the morning service, before the Torah
reading. The Book of Ruth is also read, because it mentions the barley and wheat
harvests, and also because it relates how the heroine, Ruth the Moabite, embraces
the religion of Israel.
Note:
There is also a tradition that King David was born and died on Shavuot. Because
David descended from Ruth, it was seen as appropriate to read the Book of Ruth
on this festival.
Under
the influence of the Kabbalah, it became customary to spend the entire night
of the holiday studying Biblical and rabbinic texts (tikkun leyl Shavuot).[4]
This may take place in the synagogue or at private homes.
Note:
Although the custom of studying texts through the night originated earlier,
the tikkun for the night of Shavuot was introduced by mystic Shelomo
Alkabez and his circle of 16th-cent. kabbalists in Salonika.
At home
On the evening of the second night of Shavuot, a yahrzheit memorial
candle is lit in memory of one's deceased loved ones. It is also customary to
decorate the home with flowers, plants and other greenery, reflecting the agricultural
aspect of the festival.
Traditional foods
Blintzes,
cheesecake and other dairy foods are eaten on Shavuot.
Note:
a. Dairy foods stress the agricultural aspect of the
festival. b. Another explantion stresses
the Giving of the Torah: A passage in Song of Songs (4:11) reads: "Honey and
milk shall be under your tongue" — the words of the Torah are compared
to sweet honey and nourishing milk.
In
the Bible, the holiday is also called Hag ha-Kazir (Harvest Festival)
as it coincides with the end of the barley harvest and the beginning of the
wheat harvest. Another name is Hag ha-Bikkurim (Festival of the
First Fruits) because on this day the first fruits of the wheat harvest were
brought to the Temple in Jerusalem. 
The
home and synagogue are customarily decorated with flowers, plants, and greenery,
reflecting the agricultural aspect of the festival. Hallel (Psalms of Praise)
is recited at the morning services. The experience of divine revelation at Sinai
is relived by reading a special Torah reading, which describes the people's
receiving the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19 and 20). On the second
day, the reading (Deut. 15:19-16:17) includes a description of the three pilgrimage
festivals - Sukkot, Passover and Shavuot.
Under
the influence of the Kabbalah, it became customary to spend the entire night
of the holiday studying Biblical and rabbinic texts (tikkun leyl Shavuot).[4]
This may take place in the synagogue or at private homes.
Blintzes,
cheesecake and other dairy foods are eaten on Shavuot.
