Shavuot: Customs and Traditions by Stephanie Burdine

Activity:

sburdine1 — 2021-05-11 23:50:28 UTC

Go to Sefaria and look through the different books of the Tanakh. Which book are you most interested in learning and why? Share your explanation below.

Background:

sburdine1 — 2021-05-11 23:50:28 UTC

Shavuot is known as Zman Matan Torateinu, the time that the Torah was received by the Jewish people at Mt. Sinai. To commemorate this, many people today study Torah throughout the night on Shavuot.

Activity:

sburdine1 — 2021-05-11 23:50:28 UTC

Upload an image of your ultimate cheesecake below.

Background:

sburdine1 — 2021-05-11 23:50:28 UTC

On Shavuot, there is a custom to eat dairy products, and it has become traditional to eat cheesecake as a festive holiday dessert. Watch this video to find out more about why Jews eat dairy for Shavuot.

Activity:

sburdine1 — 2021-05-11 23:50:28 UTC

What other brave, strong women do you know about (either in your own life, or public figures)? Write a short explanation below. You can also add an image, if you'd like.

Background:

sburdine1 — 2021-05-11 23:50:28 UTC

Megillat Rut, the Book of Ruth, is a Biblical story which tells the tale of Ruth the Moabite, who bravely leaves her own hometown to follow her mother-in-law, Naomi, to the land of Israel. Watch the video to learn more about Ruth's story.

Activity:

sburdine1 — 2021-05-11 23:50:28 UTC

Read the Ten Commandments (listed below in Hebrew and English). Which commandment do you think is the most important? Share your answers in a written response below.

Background:

sburdine1 — 2021-05-11 23:50:28 UTC

The Ten Commandments were given to the Jewish people on Mt. Sinai. Many people study the Ten Commandments in preparation for the holiday.

Activity:

sburdine1 — 2021-05-11 23:50:28 UTC

What do you think a modern version of Bikkurim (first fruits) could be? Add a comment below, sharing your thoughts.

Background:

sburdine1 — 2021-05-11 23:50:28 UTC

During the times of the Beit Hamikdash (Temple) in Jerusalem, Jews from all over Israel would travel to Jerusalem 3 times a year: on Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot. Many people were farmers and they would bring the first of their crops, the "first fruits," to the Temple as a sacrifice. Since these first fruits were crops that had been very hard-earned by the farmers, giving them away as a sacrifice was a symbol of trusting in God to continue to provide for them.

Activity:

sburdine1 — 2021-05-11 23:50:28 UTC

Find an image of your favorite flower or a beautiful flower arrangement to decorate your home for Shavuot. Click on the plus sign to upload the image
and share below.

Background:

sburdine1 — 2021-05-11 23:50:28 UTC

Shavuot is also known as the Chag HaKatzir, the holiday of gathering the crops, since it celebrated the reaping of new crops in the harvest cycle of the year. In addition, there is a tradition that Mt. Sinai, where the Jewish people received the Torah, was covered in flowers and beautiful greenery. Today, to celebrate both of these, many people decorate their homes and synagogues with both wheat stalks (to commemorate the harvest) and flowers and greenery (to remind us of Mt. Sinai).

Elijah

2026-05-15 15:10:38 UTC

My mom.

Olivia

2026-05-15 15:11:04 UTC

My mom

Gabby

2026-05-15 15:11:37 UTC

MY MOTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!

Carlos

2026-05-15 15:12:27 UTC

My mom.

Graham

2026-05-15 15:13:20 UTC

My Mom.

Leia

2026-05-15 15:14:15 UTC

My Mom

Shyla

2026-05-15 15:15:29 UTC

Meow Meow :)

Jackson

2026-05-15 15:20:00 UTC

My teachers and my Mom and more

Elliott

estevens83 — 2026-05-15 15:21:50 UTC

My grandma. She has been cooking and taking care of us for a long time and I respect that.

Ilana

2026-05-15 15:24:20 UTC

My Mom: Because she is kind, helpful, and brave. I love how she takes be to softball tornments that are sometimes hours away. This proves that she is a brave person because she takes me to the middle of nowhere and sometimes she doesn't know what she is expecting. This is why I picked my mom

Jacob

2026-05-15 16:13:16 UTC

my mom

Maxiboy

2026-05-15 16:14:00 UTC

My Dad

BEN

2026-05-15 16:14:20 UTC

MY MOTHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Henry

2026-05-15 16:14:33 UTC

Mom!

Seba

2026-05-15 16:17:22 UTC

My Mom because she cares for me no matter what.

judah

2026-05-15 16:19:10 UTC

my mom

Morgan

2026-05-15 16:21:39 UTC

My GRAMMA

Ava

2026-05-15 16:22:40 UTC

My mom

Hettie!

2026-05-15 16:23:43 UTC

My mom

Juliet

2026-05-15 16:24:37 UTC

my mom

2026-05-15 16:25:10 UTC

My Mom

Tate

2026-05-15 16:35:12 UTC

To me Taylor Swift is a very brave woman, because she always stands up to what she believes in. Even if she's worried she might get bullied about, she just always does the right thing.