Shavuot
Why is it called Shavuot?
Shavout means “weeks”, therefore the feast of weeks. This is due to the end of the counting of the omer, which starts over Pesach. 7 weeks after Pesach Shavout falls.
There are different names to shavout: the day of first fruits, Atzeret and the festival of reaping as well as the day of giving the torah.
What are we celebrating?
As can be seen by the names of the festival, there are different things
1 – the end of the Omer and the last of harvest. As you recall, not long ago we celebrated Lag Baomer, the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer. The 49 (or fifty) days of counting has now come to an end. This is the time to finish off the grain harvest,
2 – the day of giving the torah. According to Jewish sources, on this day the torah was given to mosses and the people of Israel on mount Sinai. We say giving to and getting from due to the need of a person to exept it by daily life and not only “get” it as it is.
3 – the day of first fruits (Bikkurim). Shavout marks the first day for Hebrews in the land of Israel to go to Jerusalem, to the temple, and offer their first fruits to G-d.
4 – modern day celebrations. Especially during the last 70 years or so, shavout has become a symbol for the agricultural settlers, especially kibbutzim and moshavim. This is they have celebrated the new linkup between man and soil in the land of Israel. Shavout was celebrated, in my kibbutz too, as a huge festival to mark our deep connection with the land, being pioneers and working the land hard.
What are the different traditions of celebrating?
- Eating dairy food: some say this is too mark the meal the Hebrews had when got the torah. They actually prepared meat but when they read the torah discovered it was not kosher. Therefore they decided to eat a simple dairy meal. Another version relates the description of torah as milk (as said king Solomon). When celebrating the giving of torah – milky food is the proper one.
- Reading a special prayer in shul or before meal. The most known one is Akdamot, by Rabbi Meir of worms. He wrote this after the crusaders killed his son when took his house, and him defending the torah and the Jewish faith.
- Reading the book of Ruth: Ruth was a widow who had to take care for her old mother in law (Naomi), a widow too left with no family or property. They both return to Israel after their husbands decided to move to a forgien place. Ruth managed to attract Boaz, a Hebrew reach guy who was a relative of Naomi. He saved Ruth and Naomi, and they Boaz married Ruth. Later on she was the great-grandmother of king David. According to the Tradition king David was born and died on shavout day.
- Greenary. According to midrash, mount Sinai bloomed when the torah was given to moses. We still mark it by decorating with flowers or greenery, as well as eating fruits and vegetables.
- Tikun leil shavout. According to the midrash, the Hebrews slept in when moses came down from mount Sinai, so G-d was waiting for them ready to give Torah. Therefore it is a tradition to stay up all night and study torah, Talmud and mishna. Not only that but later on kabbala experts explained that shavout is a special night when prayers have a special effect.
A word about Shavout and HD values:
Probably the most amazing thing about shavout is the fact it gives an enormous emphasis to the story of Ruth. The main two important values there are social justice and action, as well as equality (Gender and religion).
Ruth was not Jewish, but married to a Jew. When he died as well as all other man in family, Ruth decides to not leave her mother in Law, even when Naomi demanded ruth to stay in the country she is from. Together they went to eretz Israel and seek for mercy. And they got it from Boaz, a reach guy who decided to save Ruth, because what she is and not because where she is from.
This story shows how the determined woman managed to find new hope and new beginning in a different country. Not only that but Boaz, as all of Israel, are committed to very restrict socialist laws: they all must leave behind a lot of corps so the poor can take for free to feed themselves.
http://www.hillel.org/jewish/archives/special/shavuot/2002_shavuot.htm
http://www.hillel.org/jewish/holidays/shavuot/default.htm
http://www.hofesh.org.il/freeclass/pirkei_tanach/01/04_ruth/1.html
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=483&letter=R
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Ruth
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