Learning
on Shavuot night
On the first night of Shavuot (this year
Sunday night, June 8, 2008), Jews throughout
the world observe the centuries-old custom
of conducting an all-night vigil dedicated
to Torah learning, and preparation for receiving
the Torah anew the next morning. One explanation
for this tradition is that the Jewish people
did not rise early on the day G-d gave the
Torah, and it was necessary for G-d Himself
to awaken them. To compensate for their
behavior, Jews have accepted upon themselves
the custom of remaining awake all night.
Eating
Dairy Foods
It is customary to eat dairy foods on the
first day of Shavuot. There are a number
of reasons for this custom:
On
the holiday of Shavuot, a two-loaf bread
offering was brought in the Temple. To commemorate
this, we eat two meals on Shavuot -- first
a dairy meal, and then, after a short interruption,
we eat the traditional meat holiday meal.
With
the giving of the Torah the Jews now became
obligated to observe the laws of Kosher.
As the Torah was given on Shabbat no cattle
could be slaughtered nor could utensils
be koshered, and thus on that day they ate
dairy.
Another
reason is that the Torah is likened to nourishing
milk. Also, the Hebrew word for milk is
"chalav." When the numerical value
of each of the letters in the word chalav
are added together - 8; 30; 2 - the total
is forty. Forty is the number of days Moses
spent on Mount Sinai when receiving the
Torah.
The
Book of Ruth
In many synagogues the Book of Ruth is read
on the second day of Shavuot. There are
several reasons for this custom:
A)
Shavuot is the birthday and yahrtzeit (day
of passing) of King David, and the Book
of Ruth records his ancestry. Ruth and her
husband Boaz were King David's great-grandparents.
B)
The scenes of harvesting described in the
book of Ruth are appropriate to the Festival
of Harvest.
C)
Ruth was a sincere convert who embraced
Judaism with all her heart. On Shavuot all
Jews were converts -- having accepted the
Torah and all of its precepts.
Click
here: The
Book of Ruth
Adorning
the Home with Greenery & Flowers
Since it is the Harvest Festival, it is
customary on Shavuot to adorn the home and
synagogue with fruits, flowers and greens.
Furthermore, our Sages relate that although
Mount Sinai was situated in a desert, when
the Torah was given the mountain bloomed
and sprouted flowers.
NOTE:
All arrangements should be done early on
Sunday, before the onset of the holiday,
to respect the sanctity of Shavuot. |
