WITH ALL BEST WISHES
Posted on: 1 June 2006
- In: thoughts
- 10 Comments
MARC CHAGALL 1956-58
MOSES RECEIVING THE TABLETS OF THE LAW
This evening begins the festival of Shavuot. In Israel they celebrate for one day, but in the diaspora (outside of Israel) we celebrate for two days. This festival has its roots in the rituals of the agricultural year. It takes place exactly seven weeks after the Passover and the word, Shavuot, means weeks. Shavuot occurs at the end of the barley harvest and the beginning of the wheat season. This commemorates the time when the offerings from the harvest were presented at the Temple. It is also called Chag Habikkurim, the festival of first fruits.
Shavuot, also known by the Greek word Pentecost, is the time when the Jews were given the Torah (the Five Books of Moses) on Mount Sinai. The Torah is at the heart of Jewish culture and belief. The Ten Commandments and the Book of Ruth are read in the Synagogue which, on this festival, is decorated with flowers, as it is believed that Mount Sinai was bedecked with flowers when the Torah was given to the Jewish people.
It is customary to eat dairy food at Shavuot. We believe this is because before the Torah was given, the Jewish people were not yet familiar with the laws and rituals of Kashrut, of separating meat and milk, and were not equipped to observe the new laws. It is also thought to be as a reminder of the promise regarding the Land of Israel, a land flowing with “milk and honey.”
Yesterday I made my very naughty, fattening, high cholesterol and high calorie cheesecake … is there any other way to enjoy it … yummy.I am sorry there is no Boaz, but for some reason that only blogger probably knows, I couldn’t download his pics.
I know this is a little early, but I wish you all a lovely weekend and for those of my faith, Shabbat Shalom v’Chag Sameach.
10 Responses to "WITH ALL BEST WISHES"
2 | eliza
1 June 2006 at 18:07
Thank you for another lesson 🙂 I’ve found out such a lot about your faith through visiting you here,which has been wonderful.
Shame cheesecake wouldn’t survive a trip to Oxford!
Eliza xxxxxx
3 | DNY LOVES CRIMINAL MINDS
1 June 2006 at 22:00
I loved this my fellow Jew. What a lovely post. Happy Shavuot to you and your family and thanks for everything. 🙂
4 | ann
1 June 2006 at 22:03
dny: good yom tov sweetheart
eliza: the cheesecake would survive the trip, but there won’t be any left…. delish
5 | Tess
1 June 2006 at 22:30
I alway’s learn so much when I visit your site Ann, thanks for educating me!
Save a piece of cheesecake for me?!
6 | Axe
2 June 2006 at 09:28
That is my 5th favourite thing in the world, Ann!! I LOVE Cheesecake…no matter what flavour!
7 | Riccie
2 June 2006 at 11:42
Mmmmm Cheesecake…I get the blank look and drooling mouth just like Homer Simpson when I think about cheesecake…mmmmm…cheesecake and Vincent…whoa…stop!!
Ok. Sorry I got distracted there, Ann. I also appreciate very much when you tell us about your religion. I am a student of faith always, and I am always searching for knowledge. Thank you.
And, I do miss Boaz! I made it here on time this week, and he’s not here! That’s ok. Just please post and extra pic of him next week 😉
8 | DNY LOVES CRIMINAL MINDS
2 June 2006 at 12:46
I hate to be a nuisance about this but it is Friday morning and I have my first cup of coffee in hand and there is no picture of my Boaz to greet me here. I am speechless. Please post pictures of sweet cheeks when time allows. 🙂
9 | Finn
2 June 2006 at 12:47
Last year, I had no idea what Shavuot was. So I asked Rick. He had no idea, despite being Jewish and bar mitzvahed and the whole deal. So I asked our friend Michael, who keeps Shabbat, etc. Michael said, “It’s about cheese.”
Me: “Cheese? You have a religious festival about cheese?”
Michael: “Well, it’s about Spring and Jerusalem, but mostly it’s about cheese.”
I think Christianity has more chocolate, but Judaism certainly has more food…
10 | prorokini
3 June 2006 at 13:33
Hi Ann…I’m just enjoying a free Saturday. I am not Jewish, as you know, but I like Saturday very much. Unlike Sunday, it’s not the day we are already dreading Monday. I’ve just had lunch (at normal Polish lunchtime), then a smoke, and now I’m considering writing the first real story for my new blog. But I’m afraid I need a caffeine fix, too.
BTW, in older Polish text you can find Whitsun referred to as the Feast of the Weeks. 🙂
at home with ann 
1 June 2006 at 16:36
Wonderful, and happy cheesecake, I mean, Shavuot!