Shavuot Eve in Israel

History and Significance: Shavuot, known as the Feast of Weeks, is a Jewish holiday that occurs on the 6th day of the Hebrew month of Sivan. It marks the anniversary of the day when God gave the Torah to the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai, which is an event over 3,000 years old. This festival concludes the counting of the Omer—a 49-day period that begins on Passover.

Traditions: On Shavuot Eve, many Jewish people participate in a variety of customs and religious practices:

• Tikkun Leil Shavuot: One of the central traditions is staying up all night to study Torah and various Jewish texts in a session called "Tikkun Leil Shavuot." This practice symbolizes eagerness to receive the Torah, just as their ancestors were eager at Mount Sinai.

• Reading Book of Ruth: The Book of Ruth is traditionally read during services. Its story about harvesting ties into Shavuot's agricultural aspects, and Ruth's acceptance into Judaism parallels receiving the Torah.

• Eating Dairy Foods: It's customary to eat dairy products like cheesecake, blintzes, and cheese kreplach. Various reasons are given for this tradition; one is that upon receiving the Torah, Jews immediately became obligated in its laws including those concerning meat preparation. As they did not have time to prepare kosher meat, they ate dairy instead.

• Decorating with Greenery: Homes and synagogues are often decorated with plants and flowers on Shavuot. This celebrates Shavuot’s agricultural aspects and recalls Mount Sinai which according to tradition bloomed with greenery during the giving of the Torah.

What People Do: On Shavuot Eve in Israel:

• Families and friends gather for festive meals featuring dairy dishes.
• Many attend synagogue services where special prayers are recited and liturgical poems (piyyutim) are sung.
• In secular communities or among those less observant, cultural events may include studying sessions on topics related to Judaism or Israeli history rather than traditional religious texts.
• Children might participate in holiday-related activities such as crafting decorations or taking part in educational programs about Shavuot.

Shavuot Eve is marked by a blend of solemn religious observance as well as joyous celebration reflecting its dual significance as both a historical and agricultural festival.