Shavuot
On Shavuot, we light candles, decorate with greenery, eat dairy food, study Torah, attend prayer services, and read the Book of Ruth.
Lighting Shavuot Candles
On Shavuot, we light candles and recite the following blessings:
|
Mizrakhi/Israeli
*
Barukh Ata A-d-o-n-a-y E-l-oh-e-y-n-u Melekh Ha-Olam Asher Kiddshanu Be-Mitsvotav Ve-Tsivanu Lehadlik Ner Shel Yom Tov *
Barukh Ata A-d-o-n-a-y E-l-oh-e-y-n-u Melekh Ha-Olam She-Hekheyanu Ve-Kiyyemanu Ve-Higgianu La-Zzman Ha-Zze
General Ashkenazi
* Borukh Ato A-d-o-y-n-o-y E-l-o-y-h-e-y-n-u Melekh Ho-Oylom Asher Kiddshonu Be-Mitsvoysoyv Ve-Tsivonu Lehadlik Neyr Shel Yoym Toyv * Borukh Ato A-d-o-y-n-o-y E-l-o-y-h-e-y-n-u Melekh Ho-Oylom She-Hekheyonu Ve-Kiyyemonu Ve-Higgionu La-Zzman Ha-Zze
Originally South Ashkenazi (Poland, Ukraine, Romania, Moldavia)
* Burikh Atu A-d-o-y-n-o-y E-l-o-y-h-a-y-n-i Melekh Hu-Oylum Asher Kiddshuni Be-Mitsvoysoyv Ve-Tsivuni Lehadlik Nayr Shel Yoym Toyv * Burikh Atu A-d-o-y-n-o-y E-l-o-y-h-a-y-n-i Melekh Hu-Oylum She-Hekheyuni Ve-Kiyyemuni Ve-Higgiuni La-Zzman Ha-Zze
Transliterated blessings were contributed by Daniel Nuriyev.
|
If Shavuot begins on Saturday night, we keep the Shabbat and light the Shavuot candles from a preexisting flame.
Decorating with Greenery and Flowers
There is a custom to decorate homes and synagogues with greenery as Shavuot is a harvest holiday. In the time of the Temple, the first fruits were brought on Shavuot.
We also decorate with flowers as Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. It is said that although Mount Sinai is located in the desert, the desert bloomed with flowers when the Torah was given to the Jewish People.
Dairy Food
It is customary to eat dairy food on Shavuot. The most popular reason given is that we were given the laws of kashrut (kosher dietary laws) when we were given the Torah. While in Sinai, the Jews did not have the utensils needed to prepare kosher meat, so they ate only dairy.
Others say that eating dairy shows restraint. When the Jewish People accepted the Torah and committed themselves to follow it, they committed themselves to leading lives with restraints.
Tikun Lail Shavuot
"Tikun Lail Shavuot" is the custom of staying up all night long on Shavuot to study Torah. Studying Torah the entire night is one way to celebrate the anniversary of its giving.
Some say we study all night to compensate for the behavior of the Jewish People at Mount Sinai. They slept so soundly that they had to be awakened by God with thunder and lightening at daybreak to prepare to receive the Torah.
Shavuot Services
It is customary for everyone, even children and infants, to attend synagogue on Shavuot to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments from the Torah. Thus, we relive the historic event when the Jews received the Torah and committed themselves to observe it. Yizkor is recited after the Torah reading on Shavuot.
The Book of Ruth
Ashkenazi Jews read the Book of Ruth during the morning services on Shavuot. Some say this book is read because the story takes place during the harvest season. Another reason given is that Ruth's conversion is similar to the Jewish People's acceptance of the Torah. Ruth was King David's ancestor, and it is believed that King David was born and died on Shavuot.
