Union of Jewish Students

Shavuot

Shavuot is the Jewish holiday celebrating the harvest season in Israel and the ripening of the first fruits.

Shavuot (lit. "weeks"), refers to the timing of the festival, which is held exactly 7 weeks after Passover. Shavuot is known also as Chag Habikkurim, or "the Day of the First Fruits", because in Temple times, the farmers of Israel would bring their first harvest to Jerusalem as a token of thanksgiving.

Shavuot also commemorates the anniversary of the giving of Asseret Hadibrot (the Ten Commandments) to Moses and the Israelites at Mount Sinai, and is thus also known by the name "Zeman Matan Torateinu" ("the Time of the Giving of our Torah").

Shavuot is observed on the 6th of the Jewish calendar month of Sivan in Israel, and on the 6th and 7th of Sivan in the Diaspora. This year (2003), Shavuot falls on the 6th (and the 7th in the Diaspora) of June.
The Bikkurim - First Fruits

Like Pesach, Shavuot is one of the Shalosh Regalim, (the three major pilgrimage festivals) when during the times of the Temples in Israel, the Jews flocked to Jerusalem to offer a tithe of their produce. The farmers would begin their spring harvests with the barley crop at Pesach. The harvest continued for seven weeks as the other crops and fruits began to ripen. As each fruit ripened, the first of each type would not be eaten but instead the farmer would tie a ribbon around the branch. This ribbon signified that these fruits were Bikkurim, (first fruits), designated for the Temple.
Like Pesach, Shavuot is one of the Shalosh Regalim, (the three major pilgrimage festivals) when during the times of the Temples in Israel, the Jews flocked to Jerusalem to offer a tithe of their produce. The farmers would begin their spring harvests with the barley crop at Pesach. The harvest continued for seven weeks as the other crops and fruits began to ripen. As each fruit ripened, the first of each type would not be eaten but instead the farmer would tie a ribbon around the branch. This ribbon signified that these fruits were Bikkurim, (first fruits), designated for the Temple.

At Shavuot the farmers would gather the Bikkurim into baskets and bring them to the city of Jerusalem. The farmers living close to Jerusalem would bring fresh fruits, while those who had to travel a long distance carried dry and preserve their fruits for the journey. As the pilgrims approached the city walls they were warmly welcomed by the inhabitants of the city, playing musical instruments. Sometimes the King himself would join the procession to the Temple Mount.
Megillat Ruth - The Story of Ruth

Megillat Ruth is read in synagogue during Shavuot. Set during the harvest season, in the period of the Judges, it tells the story of a Moabite princess, Ruth, who embraces Judaism and commits herself to the land of Israel. Widowed young, she nevertheless chooses to leave her culture, home and status, to attach her fate to that of her impoverished mother-in-law, Naomi. Her modesty and loyalty attracts the attention of Boaz, a man of high standing amongst the Jews, and they eventually marry. Their righteousness was rewarded by becoming the great grand-parents of King David, who was the first in the line of kings who will lead to the Messiah. Coincidentally, King David was born and died on Shavuot.
Megillat Ruth is read in synagogue during Shavuot. Set during the harvest season, in the period of the Judges, it tells the story of a Moabite princess, Ruth, who embraces Judaism and commits herself to the land of Israel. Widowed young, she nevertheless chooses to leave her culture, home and status, to attach her fate to that of her impoverished mother-in-law, Naomi. Her modesty and loyalty attracts the attention of Boaz, a man of high standing amongst the Jews, and they eventually marry. Their righteousness was rewarded by becoming the great grand-parents of King David, who was the first in the line of kings who will lead to the Messiah. Coincidentally, King David was born and died on Shavuot.

Megillat Ruth can be found in the third main division of the Bible, Ketuvim (Writings).
Customs of Shavuot

There are many traditions associated with Shavuot. Here are a few of them:
There are many traditions associated with Shavuot. Here are a few of them:

1. It is customary to adorn our synagogues and homes with greenery to resemble Mount Sinai, from which Moses descended with the Ten Commandments on Shavuot. The rabbis teach that although Mount Sinai was situated in a desert, in honor of the Torah, the desert bloomed with flowers.

2. The first night of Shavuot is commonly known as "Tikkun Leil" - "The Reparation Night". On the night before the Torah was given to the Israelites, instead of staying up all night preparing themselves emotionally and spiritually to receive the Torah, they slept soundly. Since then, it has become customary to "correct" this mistake, by studying Torah throughout this night.

3. It is customary to eat dairy foods on Shavuot. On the original Shavuot, the Jews received the Torah including complicated dietary laws regarding the separation between meat and milk, so they chose to eat only dairy products until they could familiarize themselves with the new laws. Additionally, the Torah is compared to milk in Shir Hashirim (Song of Songs, 4:11), "Sweetness drops from your lips, o bride; honey and milk are under your tongue."