The holiday of Shavuot commemorates the greatest moment in human history: Moses and the Jewish people receiving the Torah at Mt. Sinai. Shavuot means “weeks,” and it marks the end of the seven week Omer period, when we “count down” the 49 days from redemption (Passover) to revelation. The holiday begins this Thursday evening and lasts for two days (one day in Israel.)
Customs of the holiday include:
– Lighting candles
– Hearing the Ten Commandments in synagogue
– Staying up all night learning Torah
– Reading the Book of Ruth
– Eating cheesecake (and other dairy foods
Matan Torah (giving of the Torah) represents the wedding between God and the Jewish people, and celebrating it every year is akin to renewing our vows. Shavuot is also an agricultural festival known as the “holiday of first fruits.” It is one of the three pilgrimage festivals, when Jews were required to bring sacrifices to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem (the other festivals are Passover and Sukkot.)