5 Secrets You Need to Know about the Jewish Holiday Shavuot

Shavuot is the Hebrew word for “weeks” and refers to the Jewish festival marking the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, which occurs seven weeks after Passover. 

Shavuot combines two major religious observances: 

1. the grain harvest of the early summer. 
2. the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai seven weeks after the exodus from Egypt. 

Today, it is a celebration of Torah, education, and actively choosing to participate in Jewish life. 

Torah Charm Bracelet

Tikkun Leil Shavuot

Many people stay up all night studying Torah. When the Israelites were at Sinai, they overslept and had to be awakened by Moses. 

Tikkun Leil Shavuot, means “Rectification for Shavuot Night” It was developed by 16th century mystics in Safed, who believed that by studying on Shavuot, they were symbolically preparing Israel to enter into a sacred relationship with God.

At Home

It is customary to decorate ones home with greens and fresh flowers on Shavuot as a reminder of the spring harvest and the ancient ritual of bringing the first fruits to the Temple. 

Dairy Food = Cheesecake

It also is customary to eat dairy foods on Shavuot because Jewish tradition compares the words of Torah to the sweetness of milk and honey. Blintzes and cheesecake are among the popular foods to make and enjoy for the holiday. There are more reasons for eating dairy foods.  

Shabbat Charm Bracelet

In the Congregation

Traditionally, the Book of Ruth is read during services on Shavuot. Ruth is a young Moabite woman who married an Israelite man. When her husband died, she followed her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to Israel and adopted the Jewish faith and people as her own.  

Ruth is often considered to be the archetype of all who “choose” or convert to Judaism—accepting the Torah, just as Jews accepted the Torah at Mt. Sinai—and this passage traditionally has been understood as her conversion statement.

Ruth 1:16–17, states: “Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following after you. For wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. Thus and more may God do to me if anything but death parts me from you.” 

Linda B