What is Shavuot?

And how did it become the Holiday for Cheese Cake and everything dairy?

On a more spiritual or religious note, this is the holiday we symbolically re-accept the

Torah. In the diaspora it’s a 2 day holiday.

The word Shavuot means weeks. It marks the 7^th week period after Passover.

It’s been more than 3,300 years that we got the Torah from Mount Sinai!

It’s the essence of the Jewish soul that we made this oath

In ancient times, 2 wheat loaves were offered and the Bikurim-

first fruits- giving thanks to the bounty of the Harvest!

How Shavuot Is Celebrated Today

More than just eating Cheese Cake

Candles; The Candles are lit both nights

All Nighter: It’s Customary to stay up all night learning

Work- NO Work, nadda.

Dairy- Lots and lots of Dairy, from cheese blintzes to Cheese cakes and everything with cheese.

Bikkurim Today

There are 7 specific species of the land of Israel: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates

Primary theme of Bikkurim-thankfulness!

Ancient Connection; one of three Biblical pilgrimage festivals!

It is customary to eat a dairy meal at least once during Shavu’ot.

There are varying opinions as to why this is done. Some say it is a reminder of the promise regarding the Land Of Israel – the land flowing with “milk and honey.”

According to another view, it is because our ancestors had just received the Torah (and the dietary laws therein), and did not have both meat and dairy dishes available.