An outward observance without any real inward meaning is only an empty ceremony. But an outward observance that has a real inward meaning - that is an offering to the Lord! So, the purpose of each feast is to draw our attention to the Lord in a meaningful way that reflects the theme of the feast; it is not a salvation issue …

even so, we have come to realize that a person is not declared righteous by God on the ground of his legalistic observance of Torah commands, but through the Messiah Yeshua's trusting faithfulness. Therefore, we too have put our trust in Messiah Yeshua and become faithful to him, in order that we might be declared righteous on the ground of the Messiah's trusting faithfulness and not on the ground of our legalistic observance of Torah commands. For on the ground of legalistic observance of Torah commands, no one will be declared righteous. Galatians 2:16

I. What Holiday Observes

Shavuot: Seven weeks after the Feast of the Firstfruits (Traditionally on the 6th of Sivan)

II. Background:

Shavuot is a day of rest and one of the three Holy Feasts where a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. It is a major festival yet, unlike the other two pilgrim festivals, being Sukkos and Pesach, it apparently has no symbols. On Sukkot and Pesach, the Torah calls us to literally surround ourselves with the symbols of the feast. Sitting in a Sukkah, or during the Seder one is focused, in some sense, on the feast at hand. But what is the symbol of Shavuot? What symbols invite our attention to this aspect of G-d's character and devotion to Israel? The answer is the written Torah itself.

This is the symbol of Shavuot. Shavuot is the holiday of the Giving of the Torah, and it is in the study of Torah that we can find the same feelings on Shavuot that we have when dwelling in the Sukkah or sitting at a Pesach Seder.

Going back to Israel's beginnings, leaving Egypt was the first step towards receipt of the Torah -- but it is receiving the Torah that was the most critical single event in Jewish history.

Shavuot is the only holiday not listed in the Torah by the day and month on which it is to be observed. Rather, the Torah instructed that this festival take place the 49th day after the Feast of the Firstfruits, the day on which the Omer Sacrifice was offered. The name, therefore, reflects the fact that this holiday occurs seven complete weeks (shavuot) after Passover. In mystical terms, the number 7 represents the natural order of things, and so a complete, natural cycle has occurred. The natural cycle that has been completed is agricultural. On Chag Ha'Bikurim (Feast of the Firstfruits), the offering of the First Fruit of the harvest was brought to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem as a gesture of thanksgiving for the successful yield.

But Shavuot takes place one day after the seven weeks, which is one step beyond the natural cycle and is, therefore, also representative of a supernatural event as well. On Passover, we celebrate the miraculous Exodus of the People of Israel from Egypt. The Israelites at the time, however, were, at best, a family, a loose assortment of cousins bonded together by their mutual misery. At the end of seven weeks, however, at the base of Mount Sinai, the former slaves rose above their human limitations and, by accepting the Torah, took upon themselves a total commitment to the Lord, thus creating the Nation of Israel. Shavuot is therefore also known as Z'man Matan Torateinu, the celebration of the giving of the Torah.

Shavuot has a Greek name as well: Pentecost. This is the name given to it in the Septuagint, in which the Tenach (Old Testament) was translated into Greek. On Shavuot in the year 30 C.E. is also when the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) came down from heaven with "a sound like the rush of a violent wind…and all of [those in the house] were filled with the Holy Spirit…", Acts 2:2-4, as foretold by Jeremiah. See Jer. 31:33 and see also Jer. 31:31-34 for context.

The significance of the Ruach HaKodesh coming on Shavuot is that, again, the law was given but this time it was written in our hearts. This event also inaugurates the B'rit Chadashah (New Covenant) through which Israel is further enabled to fulfill its call to be a Holy Nation, a Kingdom of Priests, and a light to the Nations.

What happens in Acts 10 is even more profound. The Ruach HaKodesh falls upon Gentiles. "While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers [read "Jews who are believers"] who had come with Peter were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles…" Acts 10:44-45 (emphasis added). The reason this is so astounding is that the Law, which the Holy Spirit writes on our hearts, was, until now, given only to Israel.

Of course this begs an examination of what this means with respect to Israel and the Nations. Because plumbing the depths of this issue is far beyond the scope of this, in short the context of the New Testament maintains a distinction between Jews and Gentiles in observance of the Law while making absolutely no other distinctions between the two.

III. Traditional Observance

1. All-Nighters: To demonstrate our love for the Torah and our appreciation for G-d's revelation on Mount Sinai, it is customary to stay up all night either learning, listening to lectures, or simply discussing Jewish matters.
   
   
2. Decorating the Synagogue with greens: There are several reasons given for this custom:
   
   
   1. More than just a recognition that Shavuot takes place at the blossoming time of spring, the custom of decorating synagogues is related to the Talmudic description of Mount Sinai when the Torah was given. Although located in the wilderness, Mount Sinai blossomed with flowers
      
      
   2. When the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was standing, Shavuot was the time when Jewish farmers brought their first fruit offerings. To enhance the beauty of the mitzvah, the baskets containing the fruit were usually decorated with flowers and greenery. Thus, one of the names for the holiday of Shavuot is Chag Ha'Bikurim, the holiday of the first fruits.
      
      
3. Dairy Foods: On Shavuot, it is customary to eat dairy foods - cheesecake and blintzes being particular favorites! Those who have the custom to specifically eat meat meals on festivals as a sign of joy, usually have a small dairy kiddush and then, after rinsing their mouths, have a meat meal. Again, numerous reasons are suggested for eating dairy on Shavuot:
   
   
   1. Prior to receiving the Torah, the Jews did not know the dietary laws. Among the first laws that were taught to the Jews were those of kosher slaughtering. The Jews refrained from meat at that time until they were able to properly prepare the utensils and learn, with precision, the laws of shechita, ritual kosher slaughter.
      
      
   2. In the times of the Temple, Jews celebrated the bounty of the land on this holiday of the first fruits. Dairy foods represent the fulfillment of G-d's promise to bring the Israelites to a land "flowing with milk and honey."
      
      
   3. The Song of Songs, written by King Solomon, has been interpreted as a love song between G-d and the Jewish people. Chapter 4, verse 11 reads: "...honey and milk are under thy tongue," an allegory for the sweetness of learning Torah.
      
      
   4. On more mystical level, the gematria (numeric value of the letters) of the word chalav, milk, is 40, which corresponds to the forty days and nights that Moses spent on Mount Sinai learning the Torah.
      
      
4. Reading the Book of Ruth: This book is read during the morning service prior to the Torah reading (On the first day of Shavuot in Israel, and on the second day in the diaspora). The reasons that we read the Book of Ruth are:
   
   
   1. Acceptance of the Torah - The Book of Ruth is the story of a courageous Moabite woman who took upon herself the laws of the Torah. Since Shavuot commemorates the receiving of the Torah by Israel, the story of Ruth's journey from Moabite princess to the wife of one of Judea's leading citizens, is an inspiration for all.
      
      
   2. The Harvest Time - The story of Ruth takes place during the period of the Counting of the Omer and culminates at the time of the wheat harvest, which is the time of Shavuot.
      
      
   3. King David - According to tradition, King David, the great-grandson of Ruth, was born and died on Shavuot.
      

VI. Helpful Resources

1. Messianic Services for the Festivals and Holy Days (4th ed.) by Dr. John Fisher, published by Menorah Ministries.
2. God's Appointed Times by Barney Kasden and published by Messianic Jewish Publishers.
3. Judaism 101 at http://www.jewfaq.org/
4. National Jewish Outreach Program at http://www.njop.org
5. Sacred Texts at http://www.sacred-texts.com
6. Jewish Home Advisor, Alfred J. Koltach, Jonathan David Publisher, Inc. (1998)
7. To Be a Jew, Hayim Halevy Donin, Basic Books (1991)