A Word of Torah for Shavuot

May 29, 2025

Ariel Simon, High School Jewish Studies Teacher and Tanakh Department Chair

A few years ago, I went to shul on Shavuot and before the start of Torah reading the Rabbi  asked the congregation, “What are you doing here?” Everyone looked at each other quite befuddled. He then continued, “I am amazed. Shavuot is by far the least practiced Jewish holiday. Nobody knows about it! And yet, here you are.” We then spent the next thirty minutes sharing Shavuot memories and explaining why we chose to come to shul and celebrate.

So, in honor of Shavuot, the most unappreciated of Jewish holidays, here is my “Why I love Shavuot” list: 

  1. It is short and to the point! One day in Israel; two days everywhere else. A much needed quick break, right before the end of the school year.
  1. Minimal prep – No chametz to sell and no sukkah to build. This is easy! 
  1. We read an interesting Torah portion (The Revelation at Sinai).
  1.  And a trippy Haftarah (Ezekiel’s vision of the heavenly chariot).
  1. I especially love that we reenact the Revelation at Sinai, by decorating the shul in greenery and flowers to make it look like Har Sinai, and we stand, just like Bai Yisrael did, as the Aseret HaDibrot (Ten Commandments) are chanted in a special tune.
  1. Water fights! Yes, there is a Moroccan custom for children to celebrate Shavuot spritzing water guns. Why? Because the Torah is like water! See this midrash for all the reasons.
  1. While there is much disagreement if eating dairy on the holiday is a blessing or a curse, I always look forward to my grandmother’s dessert tradition of eating Malai – corn bread with farmer cheese. Here is the recipe (but use farmer’s cheese instead of ricotta). I highly recommend it.
  1. It feels great to complete sefirat haomer (counting of the Omer).
  1. Staying up late learning Torah is always fun. Although, I admit, that I do not enjoy staying up all night. Did you know that there might be a historical connection between the origins of Tikkun Leil Shavuot (the tradition of staying up to study Torah on the eve of Shavuot to study) and the popularization of coffee across Europe and the Middle East? See this great article.
  1. My father was born on Shavuot! 

Wishing everyone a Shabbat Shalom and a Chag Sameach.

May our hostages return home speedily and safely. אמן. (Amen)