Shavuot | Definition, Meaning, & Facts (2024)

FAQs

What is the true meaning of Shavuot? ›

Shavuot literally translates to “weeks” in Hebrew, emphasizing the conclusion of this seven week journey. The timing of the holiday suggests that Shavuot may have been an ancient agricultural festival that took on special significance when the events at Mount Sinai occurred.

Working: Engaging in work or labor is generally prohibited on Shavuot, much like during Shabbat and other Jewish festivals. Driving or using electronic devices: As with Shabbat, use of electronic devices and driving should be refrained from during the holiday, as these activities are considered forms of creative work.

An important symbol of Shavuot is the Bikkurim, or first fruits. This was a basket of gold or silver that contained the first harvest of the Seven Species crops and was carried to the Temple in Jerusalem in a procession accompanied by music. These crops are: barley; dates; figs; grapes; olives; pomegranates; and wheat.

Day 1: The Torah reading for the first day of Shavuot, Exodus 19:1–20:23, recounts the exciting moment of Revelation. The children of Israel are encamped at the base of Sinai while Moses ascends the mountain to receive God's law.

On Shavuot, an offering of 2 loaves of bread was brought to the Holy Temple. To commemorate these 2 loaves, it is customary to eat 2 different meals- one dairy, and one meat, on Shavuot.

Today, we celebrate Shavuot by going to synagogue to hear the 10 Commandments, having festive meals of dairy foods, staying up all night to learn and reading the Book of Ruth. The meals and synagogue attendance are customs for any Jewish holiday.

Some of the most notable traditions of SHAVUOT are related to the White color, for example: wearing white clothes during the holiday and eating dairy food based on milk, cream and cheeses (which are also white, right?).

Typical Dairy Dishes

Among Ashkenazi Jews, or those from eastern and northern Europe, popular dairy dishes for Shavuot include cheesecake, cheese-filled crêpes called blintzes, noodle kugel made with sour cream or cottage cheese, and triangular, cheese-filled dumplings called kreplach.

Candles are kindled on most Jewish holidays of Biblical origin. They are: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, Passover (first and last days), and Shavuot. (Holiday candles are not lit on Chanukah or Purim.)

What are you supposed to wear Shavuot? ›

Dressing in white and eating tons of dairy. It isn't entirely clear why people dress in white on Shavuot or eat dairy. One theory is that once the laws were given on Mount Sinai, the people could no longer eat meat until they began preparing it according to the new laws they'd just received.

These all-night study sessions, known as Tikkun Leil Shavuot, are held by Jewish communities of different denominations and geographies and are the only widely observed Jewish ritual involving staying up all night. Though the custom is widespread, there are few classical sources to support it.

It became customary during Shavuot to study the Torah and to read the Book of Ruth. Celebration of Shavuot occurs on the 50th day, or seven weeks, after the sheaf offering of the harvest celebrated during Passover. The holiday is therefore also called Pentecost from the Greek pentēkostē (“50th”).

Celebration of Shavuot occurs on the 50th day, or seven weeks, after the sheaf offering of the harvest celebrated during Passover. The holiday is therefore also called Pentecost from the Greek pentēkostē (“50th”). It falls on Sivan 6 (and Sivan 7 outside Israel).

Among Ashkenazi Jews, or those from eastern and northern Europe, popular dairy dishes for Shavuot include cheesecake, cheese-filled crêpes called blintzes, noodle kugel made with sour cream or cottage cheese, and triangular, cheese-filled dumplings called kreplach.