Shavuot

Jewish holiday · Torah · spring celebration

Torah celebration. Shavuot marks the day when Jewish people believe God gave the Torah (the most sacred Jewish text) to Moses at Mount Sinai. This happened 50 days after Passover, which is why the holiday is sometimes called the Festival of Weeks.

Spring timing. Shavuot falls on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan, which usually lands between May 15 and June 14 on our regular calendar. The exact date changes each year because the Hebrew calendar follows the cycles of the moon instead of the sun.

Pilgrimage festival. In ancient times, Shavuot was one of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals when Jewish people traveled to the temple in Jerusalem to celebrate. Today, Jewish communities around the world gather in synagogues and homes to honor this important day.

Dairy traditions. Many Jewish families eat dairy foods like cheese, milk, and blintzes (crepes) during Shavuot. Some people stay up all night studying Torah and Jewish texts as a way to show respect for receiving the Torah.

Harvest connection. Shavuot also marks the end of the wheat harvest in Israel, so it's connected to both spiritual and agricultural celebrations in Jewish tradition.