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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. |