Seven weeks after we celebrate Passover, we mark the holiday of Shavuot – literally “weeks.” In the Bible, Shavuot was primarily an agricultural holiday, marking the end of the grain harvest and the beginning of a new agricultural season during which first fruits were brought to the Temple in Jerusalem. Later, Shavuot came to be associated with the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai. On Passover, we were physically freed from slavery; on Shavuot, our freedom is given purpose – we are free in order to serve God according to the dictates of the Torah.
Shavuot is celebrated with an all-night study session called tikkun leil Shavuot. It is also common to eat cheesecake and other dairy foods, since the Torah is likened to milk and honey.
On ritualwell, you will find some ideas for a women’s tikkun, feminine blessings for the Torah, and some poetry and meditations.
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Shavuot | Article
By Susan Sapiro
This article summarizes the customs and observances of Shavuot, describing new approaches to the holiday.
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Kavanot for Shavuot | Prayer
By Rachel Barenblat
Meditations for Shavuot for mindfulness of Torah
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Standing at Sinai | Poem
By Chava Weissler
A poem about how the women received Torah, appropriate for Shavuot and the month of Sivan
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We All Stood Together | Poem
By Merle Feld
Bringing woman's voice to Sinai
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The Woman's Prayer (La Orasion de la Mujer) | Prayer
Melody by Flory Jagoda, recorded by Susan Gaeta
Traditional Sephardic blessing before lighting candles
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Moving On: Yizkor and Life Lessons from the Book of Ruth | Article
By Lori Lefkovitz
Reflections on the transformation of mourning to affirmation
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Feminist Haftarah Blessings | Prayer
By the Dorshei Derekh Women's Haftorah Group (Ellen Frankel, Elizheva Hurvich, Lori Lefkovitz, Miriam Senturia, and Rivkah Walton).
Readings by Jewish women selected to complement the weekly Torah reading
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Essence of Sivan | Article
A summary of facts, characters, and holidays related to the month of Sivan
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