Explore Shavuot
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what is Shavuot?
Shavuot 2025 begins at sunset on Sunday, June 1, and lasts until nightfall on Tuesday, June 3.
Shavuot (shah-voo-oat), the Festival of Weeks, is celebrated exactly seven weeks after Passover. While the holiday’s origins trace back to an ancient agricultural festival that marked the beginning of the summer wheat harvest, Shavuot has long been identified with the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai, which occurred seven weeks after the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt.
Shavuot is a celebration of Torah, education, and community. The holiday offers each individual an opportunity to reaffirm their choice to participate actively in Jewish life.
Ways to observe the holiday:
- Study Torah All Night. Many synagogues hold an all-night (or late night) study session on the first evening of the festival, called Tikkun Leil Shavuot. According to a midrash (story), the Israelites overslept on the morning they were due to receive the Torah, and had to be woken by a shofar blast from God. Tikkun means “correction,” so this practice serves to correct this ancient error.
- Eat a Yummy Dairy Treat! Although the reasons for this custom are not completely clear, it has become traditional to eat dairy foods, such as blintzes or cheesecakes, as part of the celebration of Shavuot. Some Sephardic communities also enjoy foods flavored with rosewater at this time of year.
- Decorate Your Home with flowers, plants, and greenery to reflect the agricultural nature of the holiday. This practice aligns with a midrash, which says that Mount Sinai burst into flowers and greenery at the time the Torah was given.
- Read the Book of Ruth. After her husband dies, Ruth, a Moabite woman, chooses to follow her Israelite mother-in-law, Naomi, and enter into a covenant with the Jewish people. Her story draws parallels with the Israelites’ acceptance of the Torah at Mount Sinai.
Want to learn more about the holidays or how your family can connect with the JCC?
Explore PJ Library Milwaukee for young families raising Jewish or multi-faith children.
Contact Rachel Pressman to get connected to additional resources.
