Shavuot is on the sixth day of Sivan and usually falls in late May or early June. It celebrates God giving the Torah to the Israelites at Mt. Sinai. Shavuot is also one of the three Biblical pilgrimage festivals. It is also the fiftieth day since the Passover seder and concludes the Counting of the Omer, which was traditionally when an offering of wheat was brought to the Temple.
The counting of the days represents the waiting of the Jewish people for the Giving of the Torah. On this day they became God's nation. In Israel, Shavuot was linked to the beginning of the grain harvest. This period was a season of happiness in ancient Israel. Shavuot in ancient times was also the first day the Bikkurim could be brought to the Temple. The Bikkurim represent the Seven Species Israel is known for, according to Deuteronomy: wheat, barley, dates, olives, pomegranates, figs, and grapes. The ceremony of Bikkurim commemorates the first fruits of the season as well as God's help in freeing the Jews from Israel and standing with them throughout history.
Shavuot is the only holy day that has no particular mitzvot. The customs that take place for Shavuot include the Akdamut, or reading of a poem during the Shavuot morning service; eating dairy products like milk and cheese; reading the Book of Ruth; decorating homes and synagogues with plants; and studying the Torah all night.
The Book of Ruth tells the story of a woman who is dedicated to her mother in law after her husband dies. Ruth returns with Naomi, her mother in law, to Bethlehem, where she gleans barley and wheat for the entirety of the season. The owner of this field, Boaz, allows this, for he has heard of her loyalty. And because Boaz is a relative of Naomi's it is right that he marry Ruth to carry on the family line. When Boaz and Ruth marry they have a son named Obed, who is the grandfather of David. Because Ruth's loyalty and hard work are expressed during the harvest season and because she desires to follow Naomi and become a Jew, there is much symbolic resonance to this short Biblical book. According to tradition, David died and was born on Shavuot.
Shavuot is a happy holiday, filled with lots of good food such as cheesecake, blintzes, and other tasty treats. So head to your Judaica store and pick up some greenery and decorations; go to the kosher market and buy fresh cheeses and get your Torah ready for late night study - Shavuot's almost here!
Author Resource:-
Whether you need kippas, Seforim, Yarmulkas or the latest in Jewish music - www.eichlers.com is your one stop, online Judaica Store.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.articlesbacklink.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
