Origins [edit] In the Torah [edit] In the Bible, Shavuot is called the Festival of Weeks (Hebrew: חג השבועות, Ḥag ha-Shavuot, Exodus 34:22, Deuteronomy 16:10); Festival of Reaping (Hebrew: חג הקציר, Ḥag ha-Katsir, Exodus 23:16), and Day of the First Fruits (Hebrew יום הבכורים, Yom ha-Bikkurim, Numbers 28:26). In the Talmud [edit] The Talmud refers to Shavuot as Atzeret[7] (Hebrew: עצרת, literally, "refraining" or "holding back"[3]), referring to the prohibition against work on this holiday[3] and to the conclusion of the holiday and season of Passover.[8] Since Shavuot occurs 50 days after Passover, Hellenistic Jews gave it the name "Pentecost" (πεντηκοστή, "fiftieth day") (not to be confused with the Christian observance of Pentecost). Grain harvest [edit] Besides its significance as the day on which the Torah was revealed by God to the Israelite nation at Mount Sinai (which includes the Ten Commandments), Shavuot is also connected to the season of the grain harvest in Israel. In ancient times, the grain harvest lasted seven weeks and was a season of gladness (Jer. 5:24, Deut. 16:9-11, Isa. 9:2). It began with the harvesting of the barley during Passover and ended with the harvesting of the wheat at Shavuot. Shavuot was thus the concluding festival of the grain harvest, just as the eighth day of Sukkot (Tabernacles) was the concluding festival of the fruit harvest. During the existence of the Temple in Jerusalem, an offering of two loaves of bread from the wheat harvest was made on Shavuot. Biblical observances [edit] Ceremony of First Fruits, Bikkurim [edit] Shavuot was also the first day on which individuals could bring the Bikkurim (first fruits) to the Temple in Jerusalem (Mishnah Bikkurim 1:3). The Bikkurim were brought from the Seven Species for which the Land of Israel is praised: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates (Deut. 8:8). In the largely agrarian society of ancient Israel, Jewish farmers would tie a 26:1-10. and who were led in a grand procession to Jerusalem.. However. each farmer would present his Bikkurim to a Kohen in a ceremony that followed the text of Deut. This text begins by stating: "An Aramean tried to destroy my father. p. 1068). Since the Torah is called reishit (ראשית." referring to the fact that Jacob was a penniless wanderer in the land of Aram for 20 years (ibid. they would be accompanied by music and parades. At the time of harvest. The ceremony of Bikkurim conveys the Jew's gratitude to God both for the first fruits of the field and for His guidance throughout Jewish history (Scherman. largely observed in Ashkenazic communities.reed around the first ripening fruits from each of these species in their fields. are: . 26:5)—or by an alternate translation. "first") the customs of Shavuot highlight the importance of custom for the continuation and preservation of Jewish religious observance. Modern observances [edit] A synagogue sanctuary adorned in greenery in honor of Shavuot Shavuot is unlike other Jewish holidays in that it has no prescribed mitzvot (Torah commandments) other than the traditional festival observances of abstention from work. it is characterized by many minhagim (customs). Abraham ibn Ezra). the text states "My father was a wandering Aramean. As the farmer and his entourage passed through cities and towns." referring to Laban's efforts to weaken Jacob and rob him of his progeny (Rashi on Deut. The text proceeds to retell the history of the Jewish people as they went into exile in Ancient Egypt and were enslaved and oppressed. special prayer services and holiday meals. the fruits identified by the reed would be cut and placed in baskets woven of gold and silver. The baskets would then be loaded on oxen whose horns were gilded and laced with garlands of flowers. These customs. "last").[9] Temple in Jerusalem [edit] At the Temple in Jerusalem. A mnemonic for these customs is the letters of the Hebrew word acharit ( אחרית. following which God redeemed them and brought them to the land of Israel. It was composed by Rabbi Meir of Worms. In addition. the reading of the Book of Ruth at morning services (outside Israel: on the second day) – ירקYerek. engaging in all-night Torah study. Dairy foods [edit] Cheese blintzes. alluding to the endlessness of Torah. the consumption of dairy products like milk and cheese – רותRuth. . The positive commandments are recited on the first day and the negative commandments on the second day. – אקדמותAkdamut. the reading of a liturgical poem during Shavuot morning synagogue services – חלבChalav (milk). but before the evening service they sing a poem called Azharot which sets out the 613 Biblical commandments. a 90-line poem in Aramaic which stresses these themes. The traditional melody which accompanies this poem also conveys a sense of grandeur and triumph. typically eaten by Ashkenazi Jews on Shavuot. the decoration of homes and synagogues with greenery – תורהTorah. Akdamut [edit] Main article: Akdamut Akdamut (Aramaic: )אקדמותis a liturgical poem extolling the greatness of God. the last and first letters of the Hebrew alphabet. The liturgical poem of Yatziv Pitgam (Aramaic: )יציב פתגםis recited by some synagogues in the Diaspora on the second day of Shavuot. The author and his father's name appear in an acrostic at the beginning of the poem's 15 lines. and the excellence of Torah. His love for the Jewish people. Rabbi Meir was forced to defend the Torah and his Jewish faith in a debate with local priests. the Torah and Israel that is read publicly in the synagogue right before the morning reading of the Torah on the first day of Shavuot. each line ends with the syllable "ta" ()תא. The poem is written in a double acrostic pattern according to the order of the Hebrew alphabet. and successfully conveyed his certainty of God's power. whose son was murdered during the Crusade of 1096. Afterwards he wrote Akdamut. Sephardim do not read Akdamut. do not cook a kid in its mother's milk" (Exodus 34:26). Since the first day to bring Bikkurim (the first fruits) is Shavuot. the Israelites were not obligated to follow its laws. each day of the year correlates to one of the Torah's 365 negative commandments. is the reading for Tisha B'Av. corresponds to Sukkot. The Torah is compared to milk by King Solomon. corresponding to the 40 days and 40 nights that Moses spent on Mount Sinai before bringing down the Torah.[13] and atayef (a cheese-filled pancake)[14] among Syrian Jews. According to the Zohar. Meat is usually served at night and dairy is served either for the day meal[11] or for a morning kiddush. The gematria of the Hebrew word chalav ( )חלבis 40. mountain of majestic peaks). which include shechita (ritual slaughter of animals) and kashrut.[10] and cheese kreplach among Ashkenazi Jews. the Book of Esther (Megillat Esther) retells the events of Purim. the second half of the verse refers to the custom to eat two separate meals – one milk. which echoes the themes of springtime and God's love for the Jewish people. it lies under your tongue" (Song of Songs 4:11). and the Song of Songs. the Book of Ecclesiastes.[14] In keeping with the observance of other Yom Tovs. . Since all their meat pots and dishes now had to be made kosher before use. cheese). "scrolls") and are publicly read in the synagogues on different Jewish holidays. cheese blintzes. which is etymologically similar to gevinah (גבינה. which details the destruction of the Holy Temple. Book of Ruth [edit] There are five books in Tanakh that are known as Megillot (Hebrew: מגילות. there is both a night meal and a day meal on Shavuot. which touches on the ephemeralness of life. The Psalmist calls Mount Sinai Har Gavnunim (הר גבננים. kahee (a dough that is buttered and sugared) among Iraqi Jews. is the reading for Passover. one meat – on Shavuot. they opted to eat dairy foods. Yemenite Jews do not eat dairy foods on Shavuot.[11] cheese sambusak. who wrote: "Like honey and milk. The Book of Lamentations.[12] kelsonnes (cheese ravioli).Dairy foods such as cheesecake. Shavuot corresponds to the commandment "Bring the first fruits of your land to the house of God your Lord.[16] Among the explanations given in rabbinic literature for the consumption of dairy foods on this holiday are:[17][18] Before they received the Torah.[14] and a seven-layer cake called siete cielos (seven heavens) among Tunisian and Moroccan Jews[14][15] are traditionally consumed on the Shavuot holiday. Some synagogues decorate the bimah with a canopy of flowers and plants so that it resembles a chuppah. and the events of Book of Ruth occur at harvest time. (2) Shavuot is harvest time [Exodus 23:16]. as Shavuot is mystically referred to as the day the matchmaker (Moses) brought the bride (the nation of Israel) to the chuppah (Mount Sinai) to marry the bridegroom (God). flowers and leafy branches in honor of Shavuot. just as the Israelites had prepared for three . the ketubbah (marriage contract) was the Torah. Greenery [edit] According to the Midrash.The Book of Ruth (מגילת רות. This points to the unity of the Written and Oral Torahs. the number of commandments given at Sinai in addition to the 7 Noahide Laws already given. and all Jews also entered the covenant on Shavuot. invited Rabbi Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz and other Kabbalistic colleagues to hold Shavuot-night study vigils for which they prepared for three days in advance.[20] The custom of all-night Torah study goes back to 1533 when Rabbi Joseph Caro. then living in Ottoman Salonika. 23:4). They overslept and Moses had to wake them up because God was already waiting on the mountaintop. Megillat Ruth) is read on Shavuot because: (1) King David. (3) The gematria (numerical value) of Ruth is 606. (4) Ruth was a convert. many religious Jews stay up all night to learn Torah. the Israelites retired early to be well-rested for the momentous day ahead. the same day he later brought the Jewish nation to Mount Sinai to receive the Torah). [17] For these reasons. author of the Shulchan Aruch. (6) Ruth was allowed to marry Boaz on the basis of the Oral Law's interpretation of the verse. and the Torah is about lovingkindness. many Jewish families traditionally decorate their homes and synagogues with plants. was born and died on Shavuot [Y Chagigah 2:3]." (Deut. Mount Sinai suddenly blossomed with flowers in anticipation of the giving of the Torah on its summit. Greenery also figures in the story of the baby Moses being found among the bulrushes in a watertight cradle (Ex. when the Torah was given. "A Moabite may not marry into the Congregation of the Lord. 2:3) when he was three months old (Moses was born on 7 Adar and placed in the Nile River on 6 Sivan. The Vilna Gaon cancelled the tradition of decorating with plants because it too closely resembles the Christian decorations for their holidays. which relates that the night before the Torah was given. Some Eastern Sephardi communities actually read out a ketubbah between God and Israel as part of the service. Ruth's descendant. All-night Torah study [edit] The practice of staying up all Shavuot night to study Torah – known as Tikkun Leil Shavuot (Hebrew: – )תקון ליל שבועותhas its source in the Midrash. (5) The central theme of the book is loving-kindness. for a total of 613.[19] To rectify this perceived flaw in the national character. [24][25] [26][27] This practice began in 1967. and on Shavuot day.days before the giving of the Torah. the 613 commandments as enumerated by Maimonides. tens of thousands of people finish off the nighttime study session by walking to the Western Wall before dawn and joining the sunrise minyan there. This service is printed in a special book. the Israeli army recaptured the Old City in the Six-Day War. the Arizal. Bar Mitzvahed men. some German and Hasidic communities. This is followed by the reading of Sefer Yetzirah. an angel appeared and taught them Jewish law. with opening and concluding prayers. after each of which a Kaddish di-Rabbanan is recited when the Tikkun is studied in a group of at least ten Jewish. the army opened the Western Wall to visitors. People may learn alone or with a chavruta (study partner). and excerpts from the Zohar.000 Jews came to see and pray at the site that had been off-limits to them since 1948.[24][25][26][28] Tikkun Leil Shavuot [edit] In keeping with the custom of engaging in all-night Torah study. although Talmud. and is widely used in Eastern Sephardic. In Jerusalem. Over 200. There are similar books for the vigils before the seventh day of Pesach and Hosha'ana Rabbah. The whole reading is divided into thirteen parts. . or attend late-night shiurim (lectures) and study groups.[24] Both men and women participate in this tradition. arranged a special service for the evening of Shavuot. Spanish and Portuguese Jews do not observe this custom.[21][22][23] Any subject may be studied on Shavuot night. The Exodus. One week before Shavuot of that year. a leading Kabbalist of the 16th century. the giving of the Ten Commandments and the Shema) and the 63 books of Mishnah. and Torah typically top the list. Mishnah. The Tikkun Leil Shavuot ("Rectification for Shavuot Night") consists of excerpts from the beginning and end of each of the 24 books of Tanakh (including the reading in full of several key sections such as the account of the days of creation. The custom of walking to the Western Wall on Shavuot has continued every year since. During one of those study sessions.