Shavuot

Shavuot (Hebrew שבועות for " weeks ", singular schawua " week "; Yiddish Schwu'ess, Schwuos or Schwijess ) is the Jewish Feast of Weeks, which is celebrated 50 days, or seven weeks plus one day after the Passover.

Since the descent of the Spirit came upon the disciples of Jesus according to the Christian Bible Acts of the Jewish Feast of Weeks, Shavuot was in Christianity at Pentecost.

Importance

In the Torah, the festival has several names for a חג השבועות " Feast of Weeks " (2nd book of Leviticus 34:22 and 5th book of Exodus 16:10), חג הקציר " Feast of Harvest " (2nd book of Leviticus 23.16 ), יום הבכורים "Day of Erstfrüchte " (4th book of Leviticus 28,26 ). Mishnah and Talmud know the festival as עצרת Atzeret " solemn assembly ". The many names reflect the different meanings that has the festival.

So the Jews so remember to receiving the second Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. The first Ten Commandments smashed, according to Jewish and Christian tradition, because the Jewish people worshiping the Golden Calf Moses. Then Moses went back to the top of Mount Sinai to ask for the new ten commandments. This time the Jews had to earn the Ten Commandments, by praying the 50 days from Pesach to Shavuot. The first time the Ten Commandments were given to them.

Shavuot is also a harvest festival, as at this time in Israel wheat is harvested.

Expiration

The week is celebrated each on Sivan 6 and marks the end of spring festivals, including Passover and the Omer - counting belong.

The synagogue is decorated, because on this day symbolizes the Sinai. The Ten Commandments are the focus of the Torah reading. They are read to the accompaniment of a particular melody, and while they are read aloud, is the whole community. For this section, is generally invoked as a sign of special honor of the rabbi or else a leading member of the community to the Torah. Previously, a prayer is spoken in Aramaic under the supervision of a special melody, the Akdamut. With it, you ask, so to speak permission to even begin the Torah reading. In addition to the Ten Commandments is also read from the Book of Ruth. King David, the great-grandson of Ruth, was born according to tradition, on the day of Shavuot and died on such a day 70 years later.

Traditionally, milk is drunk to dairy dishes ( pancakes with cottage cheese, cheese cake, etc.) and honey are eaten, since the Torah is compared to milk, drinking eagerly the people of Israel as an innocent child.

Many believers to study through the night in the synagogue, the Torah ( Tikkun, " Night Watch" ), and the men wear their tallit ( prayer shawl ) and their phylacteries with the profession of faith in it. In the synagogues and yeshivas, the Talmud Toraschulen, you all night will generally be monitored and spends time with the common Torah study (that is always two together). Also keep rabbis and scribes lectures. From time to time the study is interrupted by song and dance, and so it goes on until dawn. Then all gather in the first dawn to pray, to speak even at sunrise the Shema Yisrael.