Shavuos this year falls on Tuesday night, May 15, and the
following day. Outside of Israel
the prevailing custom is to observe it a second day as well. It is a Biblical
holiday and is considered one of the three pilgrim festivals along with Pesach
and Succos. The three pilgrim festivals have agricultural themes. With Shavuos
it is a celebration of the first fruits. While not specifically mentioned as
such in the Chumash, it is also the anniversary of the revelation on Mount Sinai . In the liturgy it is called "the day of
the giving of our Torah".
The scriptural readings reflect the theme of G-dly
revelation. The reading from the Torah is the account of the revelation on
Mount Sinai found in Chapters 19 and 20.This is preceded by a preface called
"Akdumos" אקדמות) – Aramaic, "preface"), which is a lengthy ode
expressing thanksgiving to G-d for giving us the Torah. The Haphtarah is
Ezekiel's vision of the sky opening, seeing the angels of the metaphysical
world, and Hashem on His throne of glory.
A popular custom is to decorate the synagogue and ones home
with plants. The reason given is that Mount Sinai
had much vegetation on it. Therefore plant decorations recall the revelation
there. Branch and sprigs are the popular custom. The Mishna Brura brings a custom
of placing trees in the shuls and homes because the world is judged for fruits on Shavuos. However he also adds that the Vilna
Gaon opposed this custom because it was similar to a Christmas tree.
It is traditional to eat dairy foods with blintzes being
particularly popular. Various reasons are given. It is an allusion to verse
4:11 in the Song of Songs, "milk and honey under your tongue".
Another reason is that after the children of Israel received the law they saw
that the practices concerning meat were complex and lengthy, therefore they ate
only dairy until they could properly follow them. A third reason is that
because meat and milk may not be eaten together, it encourages eating two
distinct meals i.e. another one that is meat. This recalls the two sacrifices
brought on Shavuos; the additional offering brought by the priests, and the
festival offering brought by those that went to the Temple
in Jerusalem .
Hallel - Psalm 118:19:24 http://youtu.be/lFbnEet8IUo
יט. פִּתְחוּ לִי
|
19. Open for me
|
לִי שַׁעֲרֵי צֶדֶק
|
gates of
righteousness
|
אָבֹא בָם
|
I shall enter them
|
אוֹדֶה קָהּ
|
Thanking G-d
|
כ. זֶה הַשַּׁעַר לַה'
|
20. this is the gate
to Hashem
|
צַדִּיקִים יָבֹאוּ בוֹ
|
The righteous come
through it
|
כא. אוֹדְךָ כִּי עֲנִיתָנִי
|
21. I will thank you
because you have afflicted me
|
וַתְּהִי לִי לִישׁוּעָה
|
And it has been my
salvation
|
כב. אֶבֶן מָאֲסוּ הַבּוֹנִים
|
22. The stone
rejected by the builders
|
הָיְתָה לְרֹאשׁ פִּנָּה
|
Has become the
keystone
|
כג. מֵאֵת יְהֹוָה הָיְתָה
זֹּאת
|
23. From Hashem this
has been
|
הִיא נִפְלָאת בְּעֵינֵינוּ
|
It is a wonder in our
eyes
|
כד. זֶה הַיּוֹם עָשָׂה ה'
|
24. this is the day
made by Hashem
|
נָגִילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה בוֹ
|
We will rejoice and
celebrate in it.
|
Merciful King, have mercy upon us, O thou good and
beneficent Being, suffer thyself to be sought of us; return unto us in thy
yearning compassion for the fathers’ sake who did thy will; rebuild thy house
as at the beginning, and establish thy sanctuary upon its site; grant that we
may see it in its rebuilding, and make us rejoice in its re-establishment;
restore the priests to their service, the Levites to their song and psalmody,
and Israel to their habitations: and there we will go up to appear and
prostrate ourselves before thee at the three periods of our festivals, according
as it is written in thy Law, Three times in the year shall all thy males appear
before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose, on the feast of
unleavened bread; and on the feast of weeks, and on the feast of tabernacles:
and they shall not appear before the Lord empty. Every man shall bring
according as he is able, according to tile blessing of the Lord thy God which
he hath given thee.
O Lord our God, bestow upon us the blessing of thy appointed
times for life and peace, for joy and gladness, even as thou hast been pleased
to promise that thou wouldst bless us. Sanctify us by thy commandments, and
grant our portion in thy Law; satisfy us with thy goodness, and gladden us with
thy salvation; purify our hearts to serve thee in truth; and let us inherit, O
Lord our God with joy and gladness thy holy appointed times; and may Israel who
hallow thy name rejoice in thee.
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