Shavuot -- Bringing Your First Fruits

Shavuot

Bringing Your First Fruits

Shavuot, which begins on May 22 this year, is the lesser known companion of Passover and Sukkot.  The three of them share the distinction of being harvest festivals as well as marking stages in our emergence as a nation.   Shavuot includes many themes: it is the time of receiving the Torah; the season of first fruits and the holiday on which we read the book of Ruth, about Ruth choosing to join her fate to that of the Jewish people.  Each of these themes offers opportunities for celebration. 

Because it may be the least known it is worth sharing excerpts of the Mishnah’s elaborate description of the ceremony surrounding the bringing of the first fruits of the spring harvest to the Temple in Jerusalem.  

Those who came from near to Jerusalem would bring figs and grapes; those who came from far from Jerusalem would bring dried figs and raisins.  An ox went before them with its horns overlaid with gold, and a crown of olive leaves was upon its head. The flute was played before them until they approached Jerusalem. When they came close to Jerusalem, they sent messengers before them, and they would decorate their First-Fruits. The governors, the chiefs and the treasurers went out to meet them… And all the craftsmen of Jerusalem would stand before them and inquire concerning their welfare, 'Our brothers, from Place So-and-So, welcome!' … Once they reached the Temple Mount, even Agrippas the King would carry the basket on his shoulder…, the Levites would sing Psalm 30, 'I will praise You, O G-d, for You have raised me up, and You have not allowed my enemies to rejoice over me!'

 

Clearly this was a major celebration.  This ancient description should challenge us to make Shavuot a marking point in our own lives.

Each of the three themes of Shavuot noted above offers the opportunity for us to celebrate.  Here are some suggestions.

1) Receiving Torah at Mt. Sinai

* Read the story of receiving the Torah – Exodus 19-20. These 10 Commandments form the foundation of our understanding of law and morality.  What better place for our children to learn about them than in conversation with their parents on a holiday dedicated to their celebration.

* Make a meal of blintzes or other dairy foods.  By tradition we prepared for receiving the Torah by purifying our bodies and our souls and by eating only dairy-type foods, since to eat meat one needs to take the life of an animal.

* For an exciting children’s story on the festival of Shavuot, you might want to consider reading A Mountain of Blintzes by Barbara Diamond Goldin and Anik McGrory. This adorable story talks about the delicious food Jewish people customarily eat on Shavuot, and how Shavuot is an opportunity for families to spend special time together.

 

2) The Book of Ruth – The book, found in the section of the Bible known as the “Writings”, tells of a Moabite woman by the name of Ruth who is widowed at a young age.  Her mother-in-law, Naomi, encourages her to return to her people, but Ruth pledges her loyalty to Naomi: “For wherever you go, I will go; wherever you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” 

* Read the story – it is a great story in its own right.

* Talk about what it might have meant for Ruth to make that vow of loyalty in her day and consider what it takes for us to maintain our loyalty to the Jewish people today.

* Ruth serves as the prime example of one who chooses to convert and become a Jew.  Should we encourage conversion today?  How would you articulate the virtues of Judaism to someone who asked about joining the Jewish community in our day?

 

3) The Festival of First Fruits – Today most of us are not engaged in the spring harvest of fruits, vegetables and grains.  Late spring does mark a different type of “harvest” in our lives – as we move toward summer we close out the academic year for school and many extra-curricular activities, our work winds down and we prepare for the renewal of summer.  This is an appropriate time to rejoice in the fruits of our labor and creativity from the year past.

* Dedicate an evening to recounting your achievements for the past year and celebrating them as a family.

* Gather as a family or as a group of friends and ask each person to bring something special to teach. There is a tradition of staying up all night to study the entire Torah in one sitting – but many places do this symbolically by having a number of people share spiritual teachings that are near to their heart. 

* Go on a walk to gather wildflowers and make your home a showplace of the first fruits of the spring – colorful, natural, fragrant and beautiful. 

 

May your celebration of Shavuot allow you to discover new facets in our beautiful tradition.