Shavout

Shavout falls on the 6th of the month of Sivan of the Jewish calendar after 7 weeks from the day of Pesah. This year it was on May 20th & 21st. Shavout is the festival of the receipt of the commandments from G-d at Mt. Sinai by Moses more than 3300 years ago. It is also one of the three festivals where everyone have to make a compulsory pilgrimage to the temple at Jerusalem no matter where and how far they lived. Since the day coincides with the harvest of the wheat, people make offerings of the first fruits to the temple. The charismatic and loyal David, the King of Israel and father of King Solomon died on this day in 837 BC. 

Since 72 AD after the destruction of the temple at Jerusalem, the pilgrimage is not possible, so most of the prayers are offered at the local synagogue. On this day, women and children will light lamps and candles at home and men will spend the night awake at the Synagogue reading Torah. They read the book of Ruth, the Moabite, from Bible who is the grand mother of King David. 

The tradition is to eat dairy products on the festival day as it is believed on the blessed day of receiving the commandments from Moses, after they received it, the people did not had the time to cook meat which needs longer time for its preparation so they settled for some thing which was quick and easy like the dairy food. 

Happy Shavout, my dear friends.

"May the commandments of our God sit under your tongue like Milk and Honey" (Song of Songs 4:11) and its wisdom and peace fill your being and make you an inspiration & joy to all around you.

Hag Shavout Samech!