Shavuot - the Festival of Weeks
The Festival of Shavuot is one of the lesser-known Jewish festivals, and we thought it would be a good idea to try and explain what it’s all about. Anyway, here it is and we hope that you enjoy it and find it helpful.
The festival of Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah, the basis of Jewish law, by God to Moses on Mount Sinai more than 3000 years ago. This highly significant festival is also known by many other names including:
· Harvest Festival (Chag HaKatzir),
· Day of the First Fruits (Yom Habikurim),
· The Festival of Restraint (Atzeret – a reference the sages use to highlight the prohibition against work on this day),
· Time of the Giving of the Torah (Z’man Matan Torah).
Shavuot is the only Hebrew festival that has no specific date. Instead, it is celebrated seven weeks after the first Night of Passover (Le’l HaSeder).
Interesting fact: Many Biblical commentaries say that Passover and Shavuot are, in fact, one festival; as the Exodus from Egypt and the People of Israel’s freedom from bondage, was not complete until they were given, and accepted, the Torah.
Tikkun Leil Shavuot (Repair of Shavuot Night)
In a tradition in both religious and non-religious communities, people from all walks of life, denominations and beliefs gather in synagogues, community centers, theaters and schools and spend the night studying together. The custom was instigated centuries ago by religious leaders (according to some stories as penance for the Children of Israel oversleeping on the day, they were supposed to have been given the Torah) but today you will find speakers from all walks of life – singers, actors, professors, writers, spiritual guides, entrepreneurs – giving lectures, encouraging open discussion, and learning.
The Book of Ruth
Traditionally, the Book of Ruth is read on the second day of Shavuot. This tells the tale of Elimelech, Naomi and their two sons, Machlon and Cillion, who are destitute in a foreign land, after fleeing from a famine. The two sons marry two Moabite women, Ruth and Orpa. Tragedy continues to follow the family when Elimelech, Machlon and Cillion die.
Interesting Fact: The names Machlon and Cillion are clues to their fate. Machlon refers to the Hebrew word for illness (Machala) and Cilion to the Hebrew word for dieing ( cilion).
Naomi decides to return to the Land of Israel but tells her two Moabite daughters in law to return to their families. Orpa does (the name “Orpa” suggests the Hebrew work for the back of the neck, “oref”. Thus, Orpa turns her back on Naomi).
Ruth, on the other hand, refuses to leave Naomi and, in what is perhaps one of the most moving passages in the Bible says: “But Ruth replied, “Do not urge me to leave you, to turn back and not follow 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 I will be buried. Thus, and more may the LORD do to me if anything but death parts me from you.”” Ruth 1: 16-17
Another significant part of the story occurs when the two return to Canaan. Tradition demanded that during harvest time, the poor were allowed to collect any produce that remained in the fields after the harvest. Here Ruth met Boaz who not only allowed her to glean the fields, but also instructed his workers to deliberately leave produce behind. Ruth and Boaz later marry and, according to tradition, David was one of their descendants and he is said to have died on Shavuot.
Things to do: Read the Book of Ruth (It’s a short book, just four chapters) here. Watch this commentary on the Book of Ruth.
Shavuot in Israel
Shavuot has many different facets in Israel where it is celebrated in many different ways.
1. Shavuot is a dairy based festival (after all, Israel is the Land of MILK and honey). People bake cheesecakes, make dairy based dishes using some of the more than 1000 varieties of locally made dairy products and, as with all Jewish festivals, get together with family and friends for a good meal.
Interesting Fact 1: All Hebrew letters have a numerical value. The Hebrew word for milk (Halav) adds up to 40 which is the number of days Moses was on Mount Sinai when he was given the Torah.
Interesting Fact 2: You know Shavuot is near when every newspaper you get has a supplement showcasing a dairy producer’s products and recipes that you just have to try.
2. The symbols associated with Shavuot are the “seven species” - wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates. So, what better time for farms and farming communities across Israel to celebrate and show off their agricultural skills and accomplishments.
During the Temple period, the first fruits of the harvest and the first animals born were brought as offerings to the Temple and the Priests. In a modern version of this practice (but there’s no Temple), farmers from different parts of the country bring samples of their produce to Jerusalem and present them to the President of the State of Israel.
3. Water fights – yes, I know, there’s a water shortage but seriously, who can resist a good water fight – I can’t. And there are many Israelis who agree with me as the number of water guns targeting unsuspecting bystanders and water filled balloons flying through the air prove. In our house, everybody knows that the end of the picnic is a massive water fight which I always win!
4. In Germany, sometime in the 12th century CE, it became common in Jewish communities to bring children to school for the first time on Shavuot. Today in Israel, this tradition carries on, even if it’s changed somewhat. Shavuot is one of the festivals with massive amounts of activities just for families and especially the kids.