Shavuot in Israel

What is Shavuot?

Shavuot or Hag Shavuot in full means the "Feast of Week," a Jewish tradition celebrated right after the seven-week Passover. The Counting of the Omer or Shefirat Ha-Omer starts on Passover's second evening, and Shavuot falls fifty days after the first Seder.

Shavuot marks the harvest festival of grains and the Torah’s revelation to Moses on Mount Sinai, Israel. According to Orthodox Judaism, the revelation dates back to 1314 BCE. Moreover, Israelis got their freedom from Pharaoh on Passover and Shavuot, and after gaining Torah, they became a God-serving nation.

Shavuot - All Quick Overview

• Category: Religious
• Where It’s Marked: Globally
• Why It’s Marked: It marks the wheat harvest festival and celebrates the revelation of the Torah on Mount Sinai.

History Of Shavuot

Shavuot is a Jewish religious holiday and a traditional harvest fest in Israel. The grain festival is a way older tradition than the religious aspect of the event.

The harvest festival always occurs in the early Summer, and it is ancient Israel's one of the Three Pilgrimage festivals. At that time, male members of the community of Israel had to bring the first harvest as offerings to God in Jerusalem. It was thought to bring blessings and good luck to Israel.

Now to the second part of the event, which is solely religious. It is the celebration of Counting of the Omer, meaning seven weeks of Omer completion between Passover and Shavuot. The Jewish holiday allows the Jews to commemorate the auspicious event of Torah revelation and seek God’s blessings again.

Moreover, the harvest fest starts during Passover when barley is harvested and ends with harvesting wheat on Shavuot. People used to offer two loaves of wheat bread to the Jerusalem Temple after their first harvest.

It is believed that the Torah, the holy book of God, was revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai 3,300 years back. Moses and his disciples trekked along the path to Mount Sinai for seven weeks to reach the very top. They faced many troubles on the way but were determined to reach their destination. These seven long weeks of trekking did not go in vain as God revealed Torah to Moses.

Moreover, the grain harvest fest is also mentioned in the Torah. Thus, many believe the harvest festival correlates with Mount Sinai's occurrences and that the agricultural festival is dated way back before it.

How to Celebrate Shavuot

Shavuot is an ancient Pilgrimage Holiday celebrated throughout the community with many traditional rituals. Some are just personal, while others take place in a community.

Although there is no clear evidence for this tradition, the custom of eating dairy on Shavuot takes place in every household. Many make dairy-infused dishes like classic cheesecake, cheese blintzes, and cheesy fried ravioli and serve them for dinner. It is also a tradition to have a glass of milk or just cheese on the day.

Moreover, the agricultural part of the holiday shines when the Jews decorate their homes with fresh flowers and green leafage. They also put up flowers outside their doors to join the festivity. Sometimes, they even keep stalks of wheat in the house to bring a good harvest for the following year.

The Jews celebrate the day with feasts and reading books as a community. Yes, reading books! They center this holiday around the Temple by reading Piyyutim, a medieval poem, and the Book of Ruth. They read the “Book of Ruth” because it mentions the early barley harvesting, the people of Israel connecting with God through the Torah in Mount Sinai, and the death of King David.

Moreover, the Jews also learn and prepare for the Torah’s revelation on Erev Shavuot by staying up all night. This tradition is called Tikkun Leil Shavuot or the Shavuot Night Watch. In addition, they also observe the commemoration service, Yizkor, and recite Hallel and the Psalms of Praise during it to mark the sacred holiday.

Countries that Observe Shavuot

All Jews worldwide observe Shavuot; however, it is heavily celebrated in Israel.

Interesting Facts about Shavuot

There are always new things to know about a holiday. So, here are some interesting facts to help you learn more about Shavuot.

• Children have a massive water fight on the day. Usually, the day is quite hot, so they play with water guns to make the day fun and to stay cool.
• God revealed the Torah to Moses verbally.
• The Jews of Yemen first wrote the Torah.
• On this day, the Jews only wear white to celebrate it.
• Children go to school with flower crowns on their heads and a woven straw basket (Tene) with fruits to symbolize the harvest part of the day.
• According to Jewish history, the people of Israel fell asleep on the day of the Torah’s revelation.
• The Jewish women light candles in their homes to seek blessing and welcome wisdom.
• The Jewish Israelites wear not only white but also drink white wine.

Unique Shavuot Celebration Ideas

If you want to celebrate Shavuot with your family and friends, here are some unique ideas.

• Take a day off from work. Shavuot is a day of relaxation and focusing on the religious values of the Temple. So, cut some work and give yourself some slack.
• Join the celebrations by decorating your house with vibrant fresh flowers and green foliage. To make your home more welcoming, put a vase with flowers for visitors. Additionally, your house is going to be smelling like fresh flowers.
• Have you heard of the “Book of Ruth?” It is a very popular read during the Shavuot celebrations. People believe it is linked with the history of the Tohar. So get a copy and try to read it throughout the day. It is indeed an exciting book.
• As Shavuot is a day representing harvest, many lavish feasts occur in homes. You can also arrange a sumptuous dinner and invite your friends and family for a great time. And, don’t forget to make something with dairy in it.

Shavuot Quotes

Here are some Shavuot greetings to wish for your friends and family.

“Rejoice and honor the day when the children of Israel got transformed into a beautiful nation. Have a feast-full Shavuot with your friends and family.”

“We must celebrate this joyous occasion of Shavuot with love for our God as it was on this day we got a place which we can call our motherland. Chag Sameach!”

“It is the time to offer our harvest to our God and request his blessings on this prosperous occasion of Shavuot. Have a memorable couple of days with your loved ones.”

FAQ

1. Are Shavuot and Pentecost the same events?

Shavuot and Pentecost are the same events, and the names are interchangeably used.

2. What does Shavuot mean?

The meaning of Shavuot is “weeks.”

3. What are the Seven Species of Crops symbolizing Shavuot?

The Seven Species of Crops: barley, figs, dates, pomegranates, olives, and wheat.