by Cantor Leigh Korn
from the May 2008 Ruach
Theologically, Shavuot is undoubtedly one of our most significant festivals. After all, it celebrates the giving of the Torah, God’s gift to the Jewish people, which is the guide for how we are to live in this world. It is about the revelation at Sinai. These events lead us to belief in a God who cares about this world and expects us to strive in our lives to practice what is good and is just. Further, Shavuot was a harvest holiday – the festival of first fruits. And yet, Shavuot suffers from great neglect. It occurs often after religious school is over, so many of us never learned of this holiday, even in our childhood. Further, unlike Chanukah or Passover, there is no Jewish law regarding home practices or rituals on Shavuot. There are, however, practices that are the product of customs and traditions that allow us to observe this often forgotten holy day.
The main custom is the eating of dairy dishes. This is notable because for most holidays there is a call for eating meat, which is regarded as an expensive and substantial fare and therefore appropriate for a special occasion. There are a number of theories about how this came to be. The most common explanation for this deviation is that when the Israelites received the laws of Kashrut at Sinai, they suddenly realized that all their pots were not kosher and so ate from uncooked dairy dishes instead. Another explanation is that by first eating dairy and only later eating meat, (two dishes), we recall the two loaves offered on Shavuot. Another explanation turns to the Song of Songs, where it states that honey and milk are under your tongue. This was interpreted by the rabbis to be a metaphor for the love between God and Israel and the honey and milk were interpreted to mean Torah. As a result, Jews eat milk products on Shavuot, the commemoration of the time they received Torah on Mt. Sinai.
One of the old Eastern European customs associated with Shavuot is that young children were introduced to the study of Torah at this time of year. They were given cakes, honey, and candy to associate Torah study with sweetness and joy.
Another custom is the decorating of the home and synagogue with green plants, branches, and trees. In addition to Shavuot being a harvest holiday, this may also relate to the image of the Torah as a Tree of life. Further, there is a legend that Mount Sinai was once a green mountain with trees and shrubs. Another explanation is that the greenery is symbolic of the reeds in which Moses was hidden when he was rescued on the sixth of Sivan, the day of Shavuot.
This year we will be observing Shavuot with singing, activities, and prayer on our own local mountain, Mt. Diablo. Please join us on Sunday, June 8, at 6 p.m. on Mt. Diablo to celebrate this most significant of festivals. Or come to Shavuot morning services on Monday, June 9. Or eat some blintzes and read the Ten Commandments with your friends and family. Simply, find a way to observe this holiday and reacquaint yourself with the significance of Torah and its role in our lives every day.
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