Oh, IsraelLit. ''the one who struggles with God.'' Israel means many things. It is first used with reference to Jacob, whose name is changed to Israel (Genesis 32:29), the one who struggles with God. Jacob's children, the Jewish people, become B'nai Israel, the children of Israel. The name also refers to the land of Israel and the State of Israel., “Like milk and honey, it lies under your tongue.”*
We bring in the wheat from Your fields and bake bread
We gather the first fruits of Your harvest
We observe the minhagim
We participate in the Akharit
“…you, O mountains of Israel, shall yield your produce and bear your fruit for My people Israel…”**
We embrace the laws of kashrutJewish dietary laws. There are many specific regulations, but they cluster around three primary ideas: certain food are forbidden (shellfish, pork, etc.); mixing meat and milk is prohibited; animals must be slaughtered in a specific way which minimizes pain to the animal and all blood must be drained from the animal before it can be cooked and eaten.
We eat only dairy during this hag
We acknowledge the bounty You provide
We begin a new season of growth and blooming
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“How beautiful are your tents, O JacobLit. heel Jacob is the third patriarch, son of Isaac and Rebecca, and father to the twelve tribes of Israel. More than any of the other patriarchs, Jacob wrestles with God and evolves from a deceitful, deal-making young man to a mature, faithful partner to God. His Hebrew name is Yaakov., your dwellings, O Israel.”***
We read the Akdamut, a poem of praise for HaShemLit. The Name, referring to the ineffable name of God; used as a substitute for any of the more sacred names of God when not speaking in prayer. Particularly used in conversation., TorahThe Five Books of Moses, and the foundation of all of Jewish life and lore. The Torah is considered the heart and soul of the Jewish people, and study of the Torah is a high mitzvah. The Torah itself a scroll that is hand lettered on parchment, elaborately dressed and decorated, and stored in a decorative ark. It is chanted aloud on Mondays, Thursdays, and Shabbat, according to a yearly cycle. Sometimes "Torah" is used as a colloquial term for Jewish learning and narrative in general., and IsraelÂ
We read the Book of RuthAn important female biblical character with her own book. The Book of Ruth, read on Shavuot, tells the story of Ruth’s devotion to her mother-in-law, Naomi, and their return to Israel. Ruth’s story is often read as the first story of conversion. Ruth is the grandmother of King David. and speak her of her unending hesedLit. Kindness It is said in Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) that the world stands on three things: Torah (learning), Avodah (worship), and Gemilut Hasidim (acts of kindness).
We decorate our homes and synagogues with gorgeous greenery
We study Torah all through the night
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“You shall enjoy, together with the Levite and the stranger, all the bounty which HaShem has bestowed upon you.”****
We remember that we wandered through the desert
We remember how we congregated at the foot of the mountain
We remember how we were freed from Egypt seven weeks ago
We remember that we received Torah and promised to follow the laws of HaShem
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ShavuotShavuot is the holiday fifty days after Passover and commemorates when the Israelite liberation from Egypt culminates with the giving of the Torah. Traditionally, Jews study in an all-night study session, eat dairy products (one interpretation is that the Torah is like milk to us), and read both the Ten Commandments and the Book of Ruth. reminds us of where we were
Shavuot reminds us of how far we have come
Shavuot reminds us of the strength of our forebears
Shavuot reminds us to be grateful for the gifts we receive
And Shavuot reminds us how far we have yet to go
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*Song Of Songs 4:11
**Ezekiel 36:8
***Numbers 24:5
****Deuteronomy 26:11
