Shavu’ot or the Festival of Weeks falls on the 6th and 7th days of the Hebrew month of Sivan, occurring this year on Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30. The Bible notes it as one of the three pilgrimage festivals, when all Israel would travel to Jerusalem to present there the first fruits of their fields and orchards and flocks.  Even here in the US, late May is the time when all those scrumptious new summer fruits come out - how pleased we are to see them!  The ancient Israelite farmers were pleased as well, and took the opportunity to give thanks to God for the beautiful first harvest.

The tradition also identifies Shavu’ot as “Z’man matan torataynu,” the occasion of the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai, 50 days after our ancestors left Egypt.  To mark this aspect of Shavu’ot, communities traditionally hold a late night Torah study session to show that we enthusiastically “dwell upon the words of the Torah day and night.”  Our Beth David Tikun Layl Shavu’ot will be on Thursday night, May 28, from 8:00 p.m. to 10:30 pm.

The observance of Shavu’ot is similar to that of other festivals - labor is forbidden, and it is a day of rejoicing.  We light festival candles in the evening and recite Yomtov Kiddush over wine at the dinner table.

There is a tradition to serve rich dairy foods on Shavu’ot - blintzes, cheesecakes, cannoli, etc.  One reason given for this custom is that prior to the giving of the Torah, the Israelites of course did not keep kosher.  However, once the Torah was given, (on Shavu’ot), they realized they could not continue to eat the same meat that they had been eating up until then, but it took a few days to get organized for schechita, salting, kashering, two sets of dishes, etc.  Therefore, on Shavu’ot itself, they ate only dairy, and as a remembrance of that time, we also eat dairy.  Another reason is that the Torah has been compared to the sweet foods of milk and honey, so on Shavu’ot, the anniversary of the giving of the Torah, we eat milk and honey.

The appropriate greeting on Shavu’ot, as on Sukkot and Pesach is:
“Chag Sameach” (Joyous Holiday!) or “Mo’adim l’simcha!” to which the response is “Chagim u’zemanim l’sason!”

Yizkor - the very word is sobering. 

Although the Hebrew word Yizkor has most recently come to be associated with victims of the Shoah, the Yizkor prayers which we recite four times a year are actually quite ancient, dating back to the days of the Maccabees.  Four times a year, on Yom Kippur, Shimini Atzeret - the last day of Sukkot, on the eighth, last day of Pesach, and on the second day of Shavu’ot, we gather in synagogue to recall the memories of our departed parents, grandparents, loved family and friends, and martyrs of our people who are no longer with us in this world.  And in the prayer that begins with the words Yizkor Elohim..., we ask that God remember them, too.
               
Yizkor is a brief, but emotionally packed service. Everyone in synagogue at that moment is remembering someone they loved and who loved them, everyone murmuring his or her own quiet, private meditations.  The atmosphere is thick and fragile, with a mixture of happy memories and sadness for that which is no more.  Some of us bring lists of names of those we remember - Hebrew names or English - to make sure that we don’t forget anyone, and because saying a person’s name can recapture the memory and essence of a person whom we miss, and is far more meaningful than simply reading the printed generic meditation in the siddur.
               
When I was growing up, Yizkor, would always mean that there would be a big crowd in synagogue that morning. Even if the Yizkor day fell on a week day, people would come to shul, and then after Yizkor, rush back to work.  People felt an obligation to participate in this happy and sad ritual of formally remembering their deceased parents and loved ones.
               
I encourage you to come and say Yizkor.  It’s short, it’s moving, you can say it in Hebrew or English, it’s a little painful - just painful enough to be emotionally cathartic.  That means that you’ll feel drained, but good afterwards.
               
Our next Yizkor service falls on the second day of Shavu’ot, which is Saturday morning, May 30.  Services begin at 9:30 a.m. There will be a good crowd, good singing and a good Yomtov feeling in shul.  (And of course, a good Kiddush afterwards.)  Join us!  You’ll be glad you did.

Shalom,
Rabbi Eliezer Havivi

Prayer before kindling the Yizkor/Yahrtzeit Candle

The yahrzeit candle is traditionally burned from sunset to sunset on the anniversary of the day of death, according to the Hebrew calendar, and starting on the evening preceding the day and on Holy Days when Yizkor is recited, which this year will be on the evening of Friday, May 29   and all day Saturday, May 30.
               
There is no special prayer to be recited. Choose a quotation, a psalm, or a poem, one of the selections below or any other passage which you are moved to read.
               
Oh God, I remember tonight the life of my dear _______________.  As I light this candle to his/her memory, I put my trust in You and pray that his/her memory will serve as a blessing and source of inspiration to all people who knew and loved him/her.
               
May God remember the soul of my dear _______________ who has passed to eternal rest.  I pledge charity and deeds of lovingkindness in his/her behalf and pray that his/her soul will be kept among the immortal souls of our righteous ancestors.