Shavuot

Shavuot 2024 begins at sunset on June 11, and ends at nightfall on June 13.

Shavuot, also known as the Feast of Weeks, is a major Jewish holiday observed every year fifty days after the Passover Seder.

It encompasses two celebrations, the wheat harvest in Israel and God's giving of the Torah to the people of Israel on Mount Sinai. 

It is not a public holiday in North America, or The UK, although many Jewish-owned businesses may choose to close in order to enjoy the holiday.

History

Fifty days after leaving Egypt, the Israelites found themselves on Mount Sinai. It was here that God gave Moses the Torah, also known as the Ten Commandments. The Shavuot then marks the day when the Jewish people made a commitment to serve and obey God and his divine law.

At the same time, it is written in the Bible that Shavuot is connected to the harvesting season in Israel. The harvesting season lasted for seven weeks, hence the name of the Feast of Weeks, which began during Passover, and ended with Shavuot. Shavuot in Hebrew means “weeks,” which explains the origin of the name for the festival. For Shavuot, then, a pilgrimage festival, Jewish men who were able to travel to Jerusalem and offer the first fruits of their harvests to God. 

How it is observed

As a pilgrimage festival, Shavuot is a holiday centered around the community. Many people take the day off work and gather in the synagogues to participate in special Shavuot prayers. 

Shavuot also has some specific rituals and customs that Jewish people are expected to practice during the holiday. These are:

• Consuming dairy products, like milk and cheese.
• Studying the Torah through the night.
• Reading the Book of Ruth during morning rituals.
• Decorating homes and synagogues with plants and greenery.
• Reading the Akdamut, a liturgical poem, during the service at the Synagogue.

Shavuot is related to Pentecost, which also occurs 50 days after the Passover, but in the Gregorian calendar, rather than the Jewish lunar calendar.  

Learn more about the Jewish Calendar.