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Shavuot

Shavuot

When is Shavuot?

Shavuot is not tied to a particular calendar date, but to a counting from Passover. Because the length of the months used to be variable, determined by observation, and there are two new moons between Passover and Shavu'ot, Shavu'ot could occur on the 5th or 6th of Sivan. We count each of the days from the second day of Passover to the day before Shavu'ot, 49 days or 7 full weeks, hence the name of the festival. Shavuot is also sometimes known as Pentecost, because it falls on the 50th day.

What is Shavuot?

The Torah refers to the holiday of Shavuot with three names, Chag HaKatzir (the Reaping Holiday), Yom HaBikkurim (Day of the First Fruits) and Shavout (Weeks).

Why do we celebrate Shavuot?

Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks, is the second of the three major festivals with both historical and agricultural significance (the other two are Passover and Sukkot). Agriculturally, it commemorates the time when the first fruits were harvested and brought to the Temple , and is known as Hag ha-Bikkurim (the Festival of the First Fruits). Historically, it celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, and is also known as Hag Matan Torateinu (the Festival of the Giving of Our Torah).

What are the customs of Shavuot?

Torah

The most well known custom is the custom to stay up the entire first night of Shavuot and study Torah. then pray as early as possible in the morning.

Diary foods

Another custom is to eat dairy foods. One of the explanations given for this is because when the Jews received the Torah they learnt the laws of keeping kosher and the meat that they had available was no longer permitted to them. Milk and milk products however were not a problem. According to another view, it is a reminder of the promise regarding the land of Israel, a land flowing with "milk and honey."

The book of Ruth

The book of Ruth is read at this time. On the morning of Shavuot, we read the Book of Ruth, one of the "five scrolls." The book is the story of Ruth, a Moabite who chose to convert to Judaism, and was the great-grandmother of King David.

List of Dates

Shavuot will occur on the following days of the Gregorian calendar:

• Jewish Year 5764: sunset May 25, 2004 - nightfall May 27, 2004
• Jewish Year 5765: sunset June 12, 2005 - nightfall June 14, 2005
• Jewish Year 5766: sunset June 1, 2006 - nightfall June 3, 2006
• Jewish Year 5767: sunset May 22, 2007 - nightfall May 24, 2007
• Jewish Year 5768: sunset June 8, 2008 - nightfall June 10, 2008