Rabbi's Message

                              SHAVOUT: THE FORGOTTEN HOLIDAY

Shavuot is the forgotten holiday. Unlike Passover, it doesn’t have a story of miracles and a big Seder. Unlike Purim, no festivities and frivolity. There’s no menorah to light, Shofar to sound, no hut to build or trees to plant. While many liberal congregations celebrate the confirmation of 10th grade (or older) students on Shavuot, it is still a forgotten holiday in many ways.

This very low profile can be traced back to the Bible itself. While Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, Purim and more get specific dates assigned to them, Shavuot is simply the 50th day after one starts counting the Omer period. Because of disagreements over when to start the counting of the Omer, this meant that different groups recognized Shavuot as being on different days. Eventually the view that it should be the 6th of Sivan became the norm.

Shavuot in the modern age is oft neglected because it comes at the end of the school year, often after most Religious School programs have dismissed for the summer. This makes it difficult to integrate it organically into the curriculum, and lessons stay with students the best when they come out of a natural progression. So, how can we make sure that Shavuot does not fall by the wayside? How do we lift it up to give it the status it deserves? One way is simply by making a point of attending a service on the holiday, this year Tuesday, May 18th at 10:00a.m. (Yizkor)

The next way is by recognizing it at home. Taking time, even on what is often a weeknight, to say the blessings and have a dairy meal (including blintzes) in honor of the holiday elevates the observance of the day and makes it into a family occasion.

One final way to elevate Shavuot can be done by anyone, no matter if you are in a Jewish community, have family at home or not. Because Shavuot is the celebration of receiving the Torah, it is customary for Jews to study and learn on Shavuot. By taking some time during the evening or the day to learn a little more about Judaism takes us to the core of what Shavuot is about.

On Shavuot our tradition teaches that our ancestors accepted the Torah. When we observe the holiday by recognizing the rituals, attending synagogue or learning Torah (as a general term for Jewish learning), then each of us help to bring Shavuot to its rightful place among our most sacred days.