Shavuot 2012 : 5772

May 27, 2012 | Sivan 6, 5772

Shavuot is a harvest holiday, coming exactly fifty days after Passover – the word Shavuot meaning “Weeks” because this is 7 weeks after Passover.  Of course, it’s a historical holiday, as well as an agricultural one.  Shavuot is the time when Jews celebrate receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai.

Special customs have developed through the years for celebrating Shavuot: attending temple services; reciting the Akdamut poem; reading the Book of Ruth; decorating the home with flowers and branches to symbolize the harvest; and eating foods made with milk and cheese.

How do you celebrate Shavuot?

Omer Counting

Well, Pesach is over and the next big holiday coming up is Shavuot. More celebrations, more fun. But, what do you do until Shavuot? you might ask. I’ll tell you… We count. Yes, that’s right, we count the days from Passover to Shavuot. It’s called Counting the Omer. Every night we count and say a blessing. There’s a few other restrictions, too, no weddings, no listening to instrumental music, and no shaving or haircuts, at least, not until Lag B’Omer (the 33rd day of the count). As you probably guessed, Lag B’Omer is a big celebration day in a lot of communities and in Israel.

Happy Counting!

 

Post by Miss Eileen aka GoofingOff

Yom HaShoah - Holocaust Remembrance Day - 4/18/12 in US

Tonight is the eve of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day for American Jews. Many of us will be going to our temples and reciting psalms and prayers to remember the 6 million Jews, Russians, Poles and others who were killed during the Holocaust.

At one small synagogue that was founded by members, including a Holocaust survivor, the service became more meaningful as our Hazzan brought us a list of actual numbers used in the concentration camps to write in black ink on our arms. 6 members of the congregation were called forward to light the 6 memorial candles, and 1 year I was honored to be a part of the lighting.

The lights are dim, as on Tisha Ba'av, and we read and say the prayers for those murdered. The Hazzan tells life stories of Jews captured, their ages and the camp where they died. (I'm crying already writing this).

We read the poem about no one coming to fight or stand up for the Jews; I can't remember the author or exact words without seeing the text.

On this day, remember and let's NOT let it happen again!

Posted by Linda Blatchford, EtsyChai Team Captain

Shabbat Shalom Treasury

Here's a new EtsyChai team Treasury

Shabbat Shalom

So, what Chametz did you eat after Passover?