Shavuot 5782/2022

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Rabbi Philip Lipis Memorial Lecture and Learning with Rabbi Adina Lewittes

Rabbi Adina Lewittes, the founding rabbi of Sha’ar, a northern NJ/NYC-based, values-driven Jewish community oriented around the call to societal, environmental and spiritual sustainability, will join us in-person to deliver this year’s Rabbi Philip Lipis Memorial Lectures on Saturday evening, June 4. Her first lecture, “Smashing the Tablets: Disassembling and Reassembling Torah for a New Generation” will be after Mincha at 7:00 pm, followed by Seudah Shlisheet, Maariv & Havdalah. At 9:45 pm “Personal Thoughts about G-d in Our Larger World & Our Personal Lives” a Conversation with Rabbi Michael Schwab & Rabbi Alex Freedman,followed by a delicious dessert reception (with cheesecake, of course!). 

Rabbi Lewittes will present a second lecture at 11:00 pm, “Laboratory-produced meat: Is it kosher? Is it fleishig? Is it worth it?” Tikkun Layl Shavuot will continue at the home of Lori Stark & David Shapiro (1354 Sheridan Rd., a short 7 minute walk from Beth El) from 12:30 – 4:00 am. The Sunrise Service and Bagel Breakfast will be at 4:30 am on Sunday, June 5 with Festival Services at 9:00 am. Rabbi Lewittes will also deliver the D’var Torah on Monday, June 6 on the theme of “Seeing the Back; Beholding the Face.” Registration is required for the Seudah Shlisheet (dinner), all night study sessions, and the bagel breakfast by May 27. Click here to sign-up.

Shavuot Resources

Beth El’s online learning and resources brings our favorite Jewish traditions to your table.
When the holidays come around, print out a few “Table Talks” to display on the table to spark a holiday-themed conversation.
Print out the “…At Home” guides for ritual instructions, blessings, teachings, ideas, and more.

Shavuot Table Talk – click on link to open and print	Shavuot at Home – click on link to open and print

From My Jewish Learning

Shavuot, the “Feast of Weeks,” is celebrated seven weeks after Passover (Pesach). Since the counting of this period (sefirat ha-omer) begins on the second evening of Passover, Shavuot takes place exactly 50 days after the (first) seder. Hence, following the Greek word for “fifty,” Shavuot is also referred to sometimes as Pentecost. Although its origins are to be found in an ancient grain harvest festival, Shavuot has long been identified with the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai.

Shavuot History
Shavuot combines two major religious observances. First is the grain harvest of the early summer. Second is the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai seven weeks after the exodus from Egypt. The first determines the ritual for the holiday, which was one of the three pilgrimage festivals of ancient Israel, when Israelite males were commanded to appear before God in Jerusalem, bringing offerings of the first fruits of their harvest. The second determines the significance of the holiday for Judaism, tying it in with the seminal event of Jewish religious memory, namely the entering into a covenant between God and Israel, exemplified by Israel’s assumption of Divine law.

Shavuot at Home
Since Shavuot is an ancient pilgrimage holiday, it is not surprising that its ritual focuses on the community. Nonetheless, there are a number of customs associated with personal practice. Chief among them is the eating of dairy products on Shavuot. Although the reasons for this custom are not completely clear, it has become traditional to eat milk and cheese products as part of the celebration of Shavuot.

In the Community
Much of the observance of the holiday centers on the synagogue and its rituals. The special readings for the holiday include medieval poems (piyyutim) and the Book of Ruth. A number of reasons are given for the inclusion of the latter. Among them are that the book takes place at the time of the barley harvest, that Ruth’s assumption of Naomi’s religion reflects the Israelites’ acceptance of the Torah at Sinai, and that King David, who is alleged to have died at this time of year according to rabbinic tradition, is mentioned at the end of Ruth. Another tradition is to participate in a Tikkun Leil Shavuot, an all-night study session marking the holiday. And finally, Shavuot is one of the holidays on which both Hallel, the Psalms of Praise, is recited and Yizkor, the memorial service, is observed.

Shavuot Themes and Theology
By associating an ancient holiday of the grain harvest with the exodus from Egypt, Jewish tradition has imbued Shavuot with religious significance derived from the foundational event in Jewish historical consciousness. In the specific case of Shavuot, this takes the form of the entering into a covenant or formal agreement between God and Israel at Mount Sinai. This is a joyous time, since it is the moment at which God and Israel entered into a figurative marriage with each other, the hopeful springtime of their relationship.