What is Shavuot?
Seven weeks after Passover, we celebrate the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai — the moment the Jewish people became a people bound together by shared wisdom and values, not just shared survival. The holiday also marks the spring harvest, connecting the earth. While thePassovergetsusoutofEgypt,Shavuotasks:whatdowedonow thatwe'refree?
How Do We Celebrate?
Here are some ways Jewish tradition offers to celebrate the holiday. Try them out and let us know what you think!
All-NightStudy(TikkunLeilShavuot)
OnthenightbeforetheTorahwasgiven,theMidrashtellsusthattheIsraelites… fellasleep.Eventhoughtheywereabouttoreceivethemostimportantgiftin theirhistory,theymissedthemoment Godhadtowakethemupwiththunder andlightning.Asawayto“repair”(tikkun)thismoment,manyJewstodaystay upallnightonShavuottolearnTorah,showingwewanttobefullyawakeand readytoreceiveit.
DairyFoods
ThereisacustomtomakeShavuottablesvery dairy-heavy:cheesecake,blintzes,cheese,milk, thewholething.Therearelotsofexplanations forthis:thelandflowingwithmilkandhoney, thepurityofreceivingTorah,theideathatafter Sinaipeopleneededsomethingquicktoeat.No mattertheexplanation,wegettoeatreally goodcheeseandcallitareligiousobligation.
FlowersandGreenery
Wedecoratewithflowersandgreeneryto rememberMountSinaicoveredinlushvegetation anddelightful.Additionally,Shavuotisalsoa harvestholiday,whenthefirstfruitswerebrought totheTemple.Decoratingwithflowersand greenerybringsthatpartoftheholidayintothe room.ItremindsusthatTorahisnotaremnant it’smeanttogrowintoalife.
ReadingtheBookofRuth
RuthisoneofthequietestandmostpowerfulbooksintheBible.Itis intimate,human,andcenteredaroundawomanmakingherownchoices. Ruthchoosestoleavewhatsheknows.Shechoosesanewpeople,anew faith,andanewfuture.OnaholidayaboutreceivingTorah,wereadabout someonewhoinspiresthroughloyalty,courage,kindness,andagency.
CelebratingTogether
Shavuotisanopportunitytobringpeopletogether whetheritbethrough conversation,text,questions,orcheesecake.Tocelebrate,youmighttryout hostingadairydinner,stayinguplatelearningwithfriends,orjustmarking thenightwithpeoplewhoarealsotryingtofigureoutwhatwisdom, obligation,andfreedommean.Thisyear,ShavuotoverlapswithFridaynight ourfavoritenightoftheweek.Shabbatdinneralreadyasksustoslow down,gather,andpayattention,whichfeelslikeaprettygoodwaytoreceive Torah.OneTableisheretohelpyoufindyourtable.