Shavuot 2017: When Does Jewish Holiday Begin And End?

Shavuot is a Jewish holiday celebrated 50 days after the second day of Passover. Passover is a Jewish holiday that observes the liberation of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt. This year, Shavuot will begin on the evening of May 30 and will end on the evening of June 1.

Shavuot is celebrated for two different events — the harvest of early summer and the giving of Torah — or the Five Books of Moses — to Israelites on Mount Sinai. While Shavuot is a public holiday in Israel, it is not a federal public holiday but is observed among Jewish communities in Australia, Canada, the U.K. and the U.S.

“The earliest source to indicate a link between Shavuot and the Sinai experience was the post-biblical Book of Jubilees, written in the first century before the Common Era. This book is parallel to the Book of Genesis and parts of Exodus. In it, an elaborate account of Moses receiving the Ten Commandments, as well as the legend of the observance of Shavuot by Noah and the biblical patriarchs, are quoted from the Book of Jubilees,” My Jewish Learning stated on its website.

On Shavuot, several businesses and organizations run by Jews are either closed or have limited working hours. For some Jews, the holiday also warrants their annual leave.

Rabbi Yael Rapport of Congregation Beit Simchat Torah in New York City told Refinery29 that Jews mostly observe the day because of the presentation of the Torah on Mount Sinai.

"It’s taught in Midrashim (our ancient storytelling tradition) that every Jew, from the young to the old, from the leaders to the water-carriers, every Jewish soul that ever was or will be, was present in that moment at the foot of Mount Sinai to accept and commit themselves to this gift," Rapport reportedly said.

Jews celebrate the day by taking a day’s leave, attending special prayer services in a synagogue and eating a special meal. Often, Jewish people study the Torah throughout the night, read the Akdamot — a ritual poem on how Jews encouraged continuing studying the Torah. Many Sephardic Jews also sing a poem called Azharot, which is a set of liturgical poems on, or versifications of the 613 commandments in the rabbinical list. The Book of Ruth is also read on Shavuot.

Some people in Jerusalem also visit the Western Wall for morning prayers. In the U.S., some synagogues also conduct confirmation celebrations for young adults.

On Shavuot, Jewish people decorate their homes and synagogues with plants, flowers, and leafy branches. Women and girls light holiday candles on the evening of Shavuot. It is a tradition to feast on dairy products such as milk and cheese on Shavuot. Other food items include cheese blintzes, quiches, and casseroles.

The Bikkurim or first fruits is considered to be an important symbol of Shavuot. It is a golden or a silver colored basket that comprises of the first harvest of seven agricultural products — wheat, barley, grape, fig, pomegranates, olives, and date. These items are collected in the basket and then taken to a temple in Jerusalem for a procession.

Present day versions of the Bikkurim include other crops grown in Israel or Jewish communities across the world.