Ray of Sunshine. art

The next installment of our studies regarding the Jewish Feast and Celebrations is Shavuot. Shavuot means weeks so you may have heard of the Feast of Weeks. In 2024 Shavuot starts the evening of June 11th and goes through the evening of June 13th. The main point of Shavuot is the giving of the Torah to Moses on Mount Sanai. Shavuot occurs directly after the conclusion of the counting of the Omer.

Counting the Omer

After Passover the Counting of the Omer begins. We are instructed to count 49 days and the 50th will be Shavuot. Adonai (God) instructs us to count the Omer in Leviticus 23:15-16. The counting represents the spiritual progression between slavery to revelation. The 50th day is also the first day that the Israelites would have harvested their barley.

Customs of Shavuot

1. Most choose to read the book of Ruth during Shavuot as Ruth occurs during that time. She arrives at the time of the barley harvest and her acceptance of Judaism mimics the acceptance of the Torah by the Jewish people when it was given to them from Moses on Mount Sanai.
2. Tikkun Leil Shavuot is practiced by staying up all night studying the Torah. Follow the link to learn more about this practice.
3. Typically a meal of dairy is served during Shavuot.
4. The instructions for Shavuot can be found in Deuteronomy 16:9-12.

Yeshua and Shavuot

In John 14:15-29, Yeshua talks about the Holy Spirit and how it will be descendent upon all the disciples. We move forward to Acts 2, Yeshua had ascended and ten days later the Holy Spirit was poured out into believers. This occurred the same day as Shavuot! The original Shavuot, Adonai gives the Torah to the people and then Yeshua tells how the Spirit will be poured out to all so that they will have understanding of the Torah and in a sense their own person Shavuot celebration. This is important because we know that we need to have the Holy Spirit dwell within us to fully understand our Bibles and Adonai’s Word!

Leave a comment letting us know what you do to celebrate Shavuot.