Shavuot in United States

Barley and wheat make up part of the Seven Species of crops, which are symbolic of Shavuot. ©iStockphoto.com/earthmandala

What do people do?

On Shavuot, Jewish people may take a day off work, attend special prayer services in a synagogue and eat a special meal. In some communities, there are five customs associated with the festival. These include: studying the Torah all night; reading the Akdamot (Akdamut, Akdamus), a liturgical poem with a message on how Jewish people are encouraged to never stop studying the Torah, or the Azharot, a poem about the 613 Biblical commandments; and reading the Book of Ruth.

Other activities for this occasion include: decorating homes and other buildings with greenery; and eating dairy products, particularly cheese cake and thin pancakes known as blintz (blintz, blintze, blin, blini, or blintzes) filled with cheese. In Jerusalem, some people study the Torah all night and then walk to the Western Wall (Kotel, Kosel) for morning prayers. In the United States, some synagogues also hold confirmation celebrations for young adults.

Public life

Shavuot is a public holiday in Israel, but not in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom or the United States and public life is not affected. However, many Jewish businesses and organizations are closed or have restricted opening hours. Jewish people may also choose to take some of their annual leave at this time.

Background

On the 50th day after the Israelites left Egypt and were in the wilderness around Mount Sinai, God presented Moses with the Torah, or Ten Commandments. In accepting these, the Israelites became a nation committed to serving God and Shavuot marks the anniversary of this event. There are similarities between Shavuot and the Christian festival of Pentecost. Pentecost, or Whitsun, is 49 days after Easter Sunday and celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit onto Jesus' followers.

The period between Passover, when Jewish people celebrate their liberation from slavery in Egypt, and Shavuot, is known as the Counting of the Omer. This marks a period of spiritual preparation before the Torah is received. In the time of the Temple in Jerusalem, Jewish people offered a sacrifice of an omer (a measure) of barley in the temple on each of the 49 days after Passover. On the 50th day, known as Shavuot, they offered wheat at the temple. In modern times, Jewish people remember this during the Counting of the Omer by counting the number of days since Passover each night after sundown. They may use scrolls, tear-off calendars, magnets, pin boards, mobile telephone SMS reminders or email services to help them to remember to do this.

Symbols

An important symbol of Shavuot is the Bikkurim, or first fruits. This was a basket of gold or silver that contained the first harvest of the Seven Species crops and was carried to the Temple in Jerusalem in a procession accompanied by music. These crops are: barley; dates; figs; grapes; olives; pomegranates; and wheat. Modern versions of the Bikkurim may include other crops now grown in Israel or other Jewish communities around the world. Images of the Ten Commandments inscribed on stones or scrolls representing the Torah are also symbolic of Shavuot.

Shavuot Observances

Other holidays in June 2008 in United States

• Statehood Day (Sunday, June 1, 2008)
• Jefferson Davis Birthday (Tuesday, June 3, 2008)
• International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression (Wednesday, June 4, 2008)
• World Environment Day (Thursday, June 5, 2008)
• Kamehameha Day (Wednesday, June 11, 2008)
• Flag Day (Saturday, June 14, 2008)
• Father's Day (Sunday, June 15, 2008)
• Bunker Hill Day (Tuesday, June 17, 2008)
• World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought (Tuesday, June 17, 2008)
• Juneteenth (Thursday, June 19, 2008)
• June Solstice (Friday, June 20, 2008)
• West Virginia Day (Friday, June 20, 2008)
• World Refugee Day (Friday, June 20, 2008)
• Public Service Day (Monday, June 23, 2008)
• International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (Thursday, June 26, 2008)
• International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (Thursday, June 26, 2008)

Other calendars

• Perpetual yearly calendar - make yearly calendar for any year
• Perpetual monthly calendar - shows only one month at a time
• Custom calendar - make customized calendars

Related links

• Moon Phase Calculator
• Find duration between two dates
• Add a number of days to a given date
• Find when you are 20000 days old - and other useless facts
• Countdown to New Year