Prepare Yourself for Shavuot (Tuesday, 6 Sivan 5771 | June 8, 2011)

Shavuot is a wonderful time of remembering God’s gift of Torah on Mount Sinai! Tradition dictates an all-night Torah study, dairy products, and rejoicing. This is also one of the Feasts where God welcomes all people (male + female) in Yerushalyim, and mandates that all Isrealite males go up.

The word Shavuot means "weeks." It marks the completion of the seven week counting period between Passover and Shavuot. Other two biblical names for this holiday: 1) "Yom Habikurim" or the "Day of the First Fruits." 2) "Chag HaKatzir," the "Harvest Festival."

Originally it was an agricultural festival when a new grain was offered to God. Shavuot is reached by "counting the omer" (counting 50 days) from FirstFruits (the day after the holiday Shabbat) hence in Greek it’s called "pentecoste" which means "fiftieth." The timing of Shavuot is based on counting seven sabbaths. To arrive at Shavuot, we are commanded: "‘You shall also count for yourselves from the day after the sabbath, from the day when you brought in the sheaf of the wave offering; there shall be seven complete sabbaths. ‘You shall count fifty days to the day after the seventh sabbath; then you shall present a new grain offering to HaShem." Vayikra / Leviticus 23:15,16.

Shavuot commemorates the anniversary of the giving of the Law and is when children begin Hebrew School. Traditionally dairy products are often eaten because Song of Songs compares the Torah to milk, some stay awake all night in one long study session of the Torah. Generally Exodus (or at least the 10 commandments) are read along with the book of Ruth on this holy day. In Acts of the Hashluchim (emissaries) we learn Shavuot was the day the Ruach (Holy Spirit) fell on the emissaries in Jerusalem and began Its indwelling ministry within believers.

I thought some readers might appreciate a few tips for the holiday…

In addition to reading Torah on the Sabbath this weekend (Numbers 4:21 – 7:89), let me suggest you also prepare for Shavuot with these steps:

1. Buy what you need to decorate the family table with flowers.
2. Buy supplies to make homemade bread for the holiday dinner.
3. Just before sundown, light candles as you would for Shabbat.
4. In addition to the regular candle prayer, recite the Shehekhiyanu.
5. Eat a festive meal that night.
6. Read Exodus 19-20 and Acts 2:1-13 as a family after dinner.

Shavuot is about the giving of the Commandments at Sinai (which happened on Shavuot). It is also about the giving of the Spirit, which came upon the followers of our Rabbi, Maran Yeshua in Acts 2. The giving of the Spirit is a sign of God’s choosing the followers of our Rabbi Maran Yeshua to join his people. The giving of the Spirit is a seal, attesting to God’s ownership of each follower of our Rabbi Maran Yeshua. The giving of the Spirit is an empowerment, subtly changing our desires without removing our free will.

The primary obligation of the festive day is expressed in the Torah: "And you shall rejoice in your festival…and you shall only be happy." This biblical obligation to rejoice is exclusive to Biblical feasts, on Shabbat we are only required to honor the day and engage in pleasurable activities.

Shavuot Eve: It is customary to decorate synagogues and homes with flowers and boughs. After the holiday evening prayers, a festive holiday meal, complete with the recitation of the holiday kiddush, is enjoyed. On this night it is customary to remain awake and study Torah until dawn.

Shavuot day: All men, women and children should go to the synagogue to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments, and read the book of Ruth.

Mashiach and Shavuot:

There is also a connection between the Davidic royal dynasty and the holiday of the giving of the Torah. According to tradition, David was born and died on Shavuot. The story of Ruth emphasizes the fact that every person can join the Jewish people and accept the Torah, even if he is from another nation, even an enemy nation.

There is more than that, let`s read:

Luke / Uri 1:26 "And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, … 1:39 And Miriam arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; 1:40 And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisheva…."

It is my belief that by reading this text from the Besora Tova HaGeula (Good news of Redeption) that says that Miriam the mother of our Rabbi Yeshua was inpregnated on the six month of year, and that by adding nine months from that day our beloved Rabbi would have been born on the very same month as Shavuot (I will guess the day of the Feast); which makes more sence to me, with the fact that our beloved Rabbi is the one who would expound the Torah like no other, and himself is the present and future king of Israel.