Shavuot is celebrated with various festive activities, including:
Torah Study: It is customary to stay up all night studying Torah, a tradition known as Tikkun Leil Shavuot. This practice reflects the eagerness and devotion of the Jewish people to receive the Torah.
Reading the Ten Commandments: During synagogue services, the Ten Commandments are read, commemorating the revelation at Mount Sinai. The Book of Ruth is also traditionally read on Shavuot.
Festive Meals: Shavuot is marked by the enjoyment of dairy foods, symbolizing the purity and richness of the Torah. Traditional foods include:
- Cheesecake.
- Blintzes.
- Cheese-filled pastries.
- Other dairy dishes such as quiches, lasagna, and casseroles.
- Fresh fruits and vegetables, emphasizing the agricultural aspect of the holiday.
Decorations: Homes and synagogues are often decorated with flowers and greenery, symbolizing the harvest and the giving of the Torah on a mountain adorned with flowers. Some communities also decorate the Torah scrolls with special coverings.
Clothing: People dress in festive and white clothing, symbolizing purity and joy. Special holiday garments are worn to honor the significance of the occasion.
Synagogue Services: Special prayers and liturgy are recited, including Hallel and Akdamut, a liturgical poem extolling the greatness of God and the Torah.
Shavuot is a time of spiritual renewal and celebration, focusing on the centrality of the Torah in Jewish life and the joy of receiving God's commandments.
