Shavuot

On Shavuot, we commemorate the giving of the Torah by God to the Jewish people over 3300 years ago. In Hebrew, Shavuot means "weeks," referring to the seven weeks during which the Jewish people prepared themselves to receive the Torah. During this time, we freed ourselves from the scars of slavery and became a holy people, ready to encounter God. The giving of the Torah was a profound event that forever influenced the essence of the Jewish soul. Our scholars have likened this event to the formation of a marriage between God and the Jewish people. He became our God, and we accepted the responsibilities of this unique relationship. The Torah is like a marriage contract that establishes the mutual terms of this relationship. It is customary to decorate the synagogue and homes with flowers as a reminder of the flowers that bloomed on the slopes of Mount Sinai when the Torah was given. Another custom is to consume dairy products during Shavuot. Just as milk is essential for a newborn baby, the Torah was vital for the "newborn" Jewish people. Shavuot is an opportune time to pay even more attention to our precious heritage, particularly when everyone, young and old, listens to the reading of the Ten Commandments in the synagogue.