Shavuot 2027: The Feast of Weeks

Tikkun Leil Shavuot — All-Night Torah Study

The most distinctive Shavuot custom is staying awake through the night studying Torah, Talmud, and Jewish texts. Known as Tikkun Leil Shavuot, this practice is observed in synagogues and study halls worldwide. Many communities offer rotating lectures and classes throughout the night to mark the receiving of the Torah.

Dairy Foods

It is traditional to eat dairy foods on Shavuot — cheesecake, blintzes, cheese kreplach. The reasons given include: the Torah is compared to milk and honey; the Israelites had not yet learned kosher meat preparation when they received the Torah; and cheese-making, like Torah study, requires patience and time.

Book of Ruth

The Book of Ruth is read publicly in the synagogue on Shavuot. Ruth's conversion and declaration — 'Your people shall be my people, and your God my God' — parallels the Jewish people's acceptance of the Torah. The story is also set during the barley and wheat harvests, reflecting Shavuot's agricultural roots.

Synagogue Prayers and Yizkor

Services include Hallel (Psalms of praise) and a public reading of the Ten Commandments. Yizkor, the memorial service for departed loved ones, is recited on the second day in Ashkenazi communities. The synagogue is traditionally decorated with flowers and greenery, recalling the flowering of Mount Sinai.

Why do Jews eat dairy foods on Shavuot?

Several reasons are given for the dairy tradition. The most cited: when the Israelites received the Torah at Sinai, they had not yet learned the laws of shechita (kosher slaughter), so they ate dairy until they could prepare meat properly. Another reason: the Torah is compared to milk and honey ('honey and milk under your tongue' — Song of Songs 4:11), making dairy a symbolic food. A Kabbalistic interpretation connects the four cups of milk to the four letters of God's name. In practice, the tradition is celebrated with cheesecake, blintzes, and other cheese dishes — one of the most beloved culinary customs in the Jewish calendar.

What is the Omer count and how does it connect to Shavuot?

The Omer (עֹמֶר) is a 49-day count beginning on the second night of Passover and ending the night before Shavuot. Each evening, a blessing is recited and the day is announced ('Today is the Nth day of the Omer'). The count connects the physical liberation of Passover to the spiritual receiving of the Torah at Shavuot — 49 days of spiritual preparation. The Omer period is traditionally one of semi-mourning: weddings are not held, music is avoided, and haircuts are restricted (customs vary). On Lag BaOmer — the 33rd day — restrictions are lifted for a day of celebration, bonfires, and weddings.