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Shavuot is a Jewish dairy festival that celebrates the giving of the Torah. Why dairy? Because, before receiving the Torah, the Jewish people had not yet received dietary laws and did not know which animals they could eat. So to refrain from inadvertently eating non-kosher food, the Jewish people ate dairy.
To commemorate this, each year Shavuot is celebrated with a dairy bonanza. All kosher stores will stock specially imported kosher cheeses and most families will sit down to festive dairy meals. Children especially love Shavuot. The 10 commandments are read in synagogue and immediately after, each child present is rewarded with dairy ice cream and toppings.
Ice cream is a feature of the Jewish festival of Shavuot.Credit: Shutterstock.com
In addition to being a dairy lover’s haven, Shavuot is also an intellectual festival. Most synagogues will open their doors all night long for the festival and there will be an amazing array of panels and lectures dedicated to studying Torah, Jewish thought, philosophy and law. The guests and visitors are plentiful, and the discussions are always lively.
The intellectual rigour of Shavuot makes it unlike most other Jewish festivals. The emphasis is to sit and study to understand the minutest details of the Torah – even why words in the Torah were spelled with a certain letter. Discussions on the Jewish approach to controversial topics such as assisted dying or abortion. And a plethora of panels dedicated to how we might rectify gender inequality in our synagogues and on our communal boards.
The Jewish calendar has so many festivals with in-built opportunities for family time and ritual. Each season brings with it so much excitement. Passover is a time for family and remembering our history. Hanukkah is great fun, with eight nights of candle lighting. Sukkot means sitting outdoors in a booth surrounded by nature. It is for this reason I love being Jewish. Our festivals encourage learning for its own sake.
Shavuot, although less well known, is no less worthy of celebration.
In an age where people feel less inclined to be religious or belong to a congregation, I think it’s wonderful that my children are hopping with excitement to arrive at synagogue and hear the 10 commandments. I love that my husband and I get to enjoy learning for the sake of learning.
I love that no matter where Jews are located, we celebrate the giving of the Torah in the same way. And most of all, I love that being Jewish provides my family and me with a blueprint for a meaningful and beautiful life.
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