Adm Carpenter -Head of Jewish Studies Primary

Preparing for שבועות/Shavu’ot

Since Pesach, the Jewish calendar has been marking the Omer period, the 49-day period that links פסח/ Pesach with שבועות/ Shavuot (which means ‘weeks’).  The omer was a sheaf or measure of barley that was bought to the Temple during this period of the barley harvest.

In the Torah, Shavu’ot/ שבועות is one of the 3 pilgrimage and harvest festivals. During Temple times, it marked when the Israelites would bring ביכורים/ Bikkurim – offerings of the first fruits of the harvest – to the Temple. With Rabbinic Judaism, Shavu’ot developed an additional element of significance as זמן מתן תורתנו/ Z’man Matan Torateinu – the time of the giving of our Torah.

Interesting links and reads:

www.tabletmag.com/holidays/shavuot:

Articles include:

• Relating the Book of רות/ Ruth (traditionally read on שבועות/Shavu’ot) and contemporary issues of refugees and migration
• Custom of תיקון ליל שבועות / Tikkun Leil Shavuot – spending first night of שבועות/Shavu’ot engaged in Jewish learning
• Various cheese-themed recipes – from cheese cake to blintzes

www.myjewishlearning.com/category/celebrate/shavuot/:

Articles include:

• To explore the origins of שבועות/Shavu’ot customs
• Read about different traditions on Moshe’s role in writing the תורה/Torah
• Explore the connection between the Book of רות/Ruth and שבועות/Shavu’ot

What to do if you or your loved ones are lactose intolerant or vegan? Explore these recipes for dairy-free, vegan cheese cakes:

https://minimalistbaker.com/7-ingredient-vegan-cheesecakes/

Using animated resources from the producers of BimBam to develop your שבועות/Shavu’ot knowledge:

Animated and musical rendition of the Book of Ruth

www.youtube.com/watch?v=txmyWXKc9zY