Shavu’ot

      The Feast of Shavu’ot (Weeks) was a major holiday in Biblical times.  In fact, it was one of the three festivals when every male was expected to come to worship in the Temple at Jerusalem. In those days, it was mostly an agricultural festival. The Torah was ambiguous regarding the exact date to allow for differences in harvest time.  Israel was to count 50 days from “the first day after the Shabbat,” 

(Leviticus 23:11,15). The Greek name for this holiday, “Pentecostos,” means 50th. The rabbis interpreted the “Shabbat,” to mean the Passover. Counting began on the second day of Passover week. On Shavu’ot, the barley and wheat harvest were complete, and the first fruits of the wheat, fruits and vegetables were brought in. The people of Israel were expected to rest and have joyous worship with a large number of sacrifices.  

      In time, the rabbis calculated that the Torah must have been given on Mount Sinai on the same day (the 6th of Sivan). After the Temple was destroyed by the Romans (70 CE), Shavu’ot stopped being an agricultural festival and the emphasis was placed mostly on the giving of the Torah. Shavu’ot was re-named Chag Matnat Torateinu—the Festival of the Giving of the Law. Today, especially outside of Israel, the emphasis still remains on the giving of the Torah. In many communities it is traditional to have an all-night study session, called Tikkun Leil Shavu’ot, on the night before the festival. The synagogue is decorated with greenery, according to a tradition that claims that Mount Sinai was especially green when the Torah was given. The synagogue liturgy includes special poems, special readings from the Torah and reciting the Book of Ruth.