Wishing you a blessed and joyous Shavuot!

Shavuot is perhaps one of the most underrated Jewish holidays. It is one of the three pilgrimage festivals described in the Torah, known as the "Shalosh Regalim," during which it was customary to bring special offerings to the Temple. The core theme of this holiday is a truly defining moment in the history of the Jewish people: the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, which took place 50 days after the Exodus from Egypt, on the 6th of Sivan. Nevertheless, it receives significantly less attention today than, for instance, Passover. Yet, these two holidays are deeply intertwined: the Exodus from Egypt would lack its ultimate significance without the subsequent giving of the Torah.

Let us examine the details. First, what does Shavuot mean? In Hebrew, the word translates to "weeks," signifying the seven weeks that the Jewish people count from Passover to Shavuot, emotionally transitioning from slavery to prepare for receiving the Law. The word can also be read as "Shvuot," meaning "oaths," representing the covenants of mutual loyalty exchanged on this day between the Almighty and the Jewish people.

Shavuot, which coincides with the wheat harvest season, is also known as Yom HaBikurim—the Day of the First Fruits, which were traditionally brought as offerings. In antiquity, Shavuot was a pilgrimage festival when the majority of the nation would journey to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices in the Temple and engage in vibrant celebrations throughout the city. In the absence of the Temple today, the laws of offerings are currently not practiced; however, over the centuries, the holiday has been enriched with various other meaningful customs.

On the eve of the holiday, it is customary to stay awake and study Torah until dawn, symbolizing the significance of the upcoming day and the readiness to receive the Torah. This practice is known as "Tikkun Leil Shavuot." The Midrash relates that many of the Jewish people at Mount Sinai fell asleep on that historic night, nearly missing the momentous occasion.

In the morning, during the prayer service, a section of the Torah recounting the Giving of the Law and the Ten Commandments is read. Another scripture read on this day is the Scroll of Ruth, which tells the story of a Moabite woman who converted to Judaism and integrated into the nation. This symbolizes how the entire Jewish people underwent a collective conversion on this day by voluntarily accepting the Torah. Furthermore, the events of the Scroll of Ruth occurred precisely during the wheat harvest.

Additionally, one of the most widely embraced customs is the consumption of dairy-based meals. There are several explanations for this. One is derived from King Solomon's phrase in the Song of Songs, "Honey and milk are under your tongue," where milk represents the understanding of the Torah.

Another explanation is that with the giving of the Torah, the nation had to learn the complex laws of keeping kosher for meat, and thus only dairy foods were consumed on that day.

Like many Jewish holidays over the past year, this Shavuot will be particularly memorable for Israel and the global Jewish community. In the #EAJConline video, we reflect on the meanings and traditions of this holiday 👇

We wish all Israeli citizens a peaceful and fulfilling holiday under quiet skies!

Chag Shavuot Sameach!