As Shabbath ends on Saturday night, Jews around the world will begin celebrating the Biblical festival of Shavuoth. In Israel, the holiday will end on Sunday night but outside the holy land, Shavuoth ends on Monday evening at sunset. Literally meaning ‘weeks’, the holiday celebrated on the 5th of Sivan marks the end of a seven-week period of counting, referred to as the Omer, as mandated in the Bible, beginning as Passover ends and is one of the three biblically ordained Pilgrimage Festivals in which all the Jews would go to Jerusalem.
When the Temple stood in Jerusalem, two wheat loaves would be offered in the Holy Temple on Shavuot, the only time when leavened bread was brought to the Temple. It was also at this time that people would begin to bring bikkurim, their first and choicest fruits, to thank G‑d for Israel’s bounty.
There is a tradition that the Torah was given at Mount Sinai on Shavuoth so it is customary to stay up all night learning Torah. It is also customary to read the Book of Ruth during morning services, as King David—whose passing occurred on this day—was a descendant of Ruth the Moabite. As on other holidays, special meals are eaten, and no “work” may be performed.
It is customary to eat dairy foods on Shavuot.
