Shavuot, A Summer Festival

Today is Shavuot, the summer harvest festival celebrated in Israel from antiquity. God told Moses to command the Hebrews, “Count off seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain. Then celebrate the Festival of Weeks to the Lord your God by giving a freewill offering in proportion to the blessings the Lord your God has given you. And rejoice before the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name.” (Deut. 16:9-11)

Flowers in the Golan

The Jews have taken this celebration as a time as an opportunity for thanksgiving, remembering that God is the provider of all good things. Children wear wreaths of flowers around their heads to celebrate the beauty of nature during the days leading up to the festival of weeks. Christians, without realizing it, count the omer and call the day of first fruits Pentecost.

Pomegranate Tree with flowers and young fruit

The Mishnah relates that before the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, the Festival of First Fruits was a community gala when people of Eretz Yisrael (the land of Israel) would make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem bringing an offering from their agricultural produce at the time of their local harvest.

Banana Plantation in Galilee

A local official would cry out on the day after the first harvest in each local community, “Rise and let us go up to Zion, to the House of the Lord our God.”

Olive Harvest in Israel

The offering of first fruits would be placed on a cart, drawn by an ox which was decorated for the occasion. Its horns were covered with gold, an olive crown was placed on its head, and fruits and wreaths adorned its back and the cart.

Flowers in Golan

The local official and a musician who played the halil (flute) would lead a procession, followed by the decorated ox who pulled the cart, which was followed by the people of the community until they reached the vicinity of Jerusalem. Along the road a team of greeters would join the procession and enlarge the music and joy of the celebration until the entire procession reached the gates of the city.

Damascus Gate, a main entry into Jerusalem from the north

At the gates of Jerusalem an important official met the procession and led them to Temple Mount. Along the streets of the city tradesmen would greet them with a welcome of peace, with singing, and probably with encouragement to examine their wares as the procession left town.

The Shuk, Mahane Yehuda Market

Following the destruction of the Temple, the Jewish people were faced with the dilemma as to how God should be honored without a designated meeting place to honor The Name. Rabbi Meir suggested (Exodus Rabbah, chapter 31) that the festival should be celebrated as the day the Torah was given on Mount Sinai. It has been noted that this event occurred about three months after Passover, which preceded the exodus from Egypt.

Shavuot Program in Haifa

In response, many Jews have added an all night study of Torah to the celebration of Shavuot. They also encourage partaking of dairy products (such as ice cream and cheesecake) to enhance the celebration.