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Shavuot • שבועות
The Giving of the Torah
Shavuot 2025 begins on the evening of Sunday, June 1, and ends with nightfall on Tuesday, June 2, 2025
What is Shavuot?
Shavuot is a 2-day holiday commemorating when G-d gave the Torah to the Jewish nation at Mount Sinai, over 3,300 years ago. Each Shavuot, we relive the experience of receiving the Torah.
We celebrate by reading the Aseret Hadibrot, the 10 Commandments, which reaffirms our acceptance of the Torah and its laws.
How can I celebrate?
On Shavuot, we celebrate the deeply personal, authentic, and intimate bond that each of us has with our Creator. When G-d presented the Torah, it wasn’t just to the leaders or elders; He revealed His presence to each and every individual present.
The main component of Shavuot, the star of the show, is the 10 Commandments; in Hebrew called the Aseret Hadibrot. When it’s not possible to hear them being read, you can still read through them on Shavuot day.
Accepting the Torah on Shavuot is a personal experience, just like our relationship with G-d.
Talk to Him about anything; He loves to hear from you.
Holiday Customs
Shavuot is a holiday with many unique traditions and customs.
Here are several which are celebrated by Jews around the world each year:
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Eating dairy dishes. Once our ancestors accepted the Torah with its laws of kosher, they were no longer able to eat the meat they had previously prepared. Their solution: dairy!
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Staying awake the 1st night of Shavuot, studying Torah.
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Decorating one's space with flowers and greenery. Although Mount Sinai was a nondescript mountain in the midst of a desert, when G-d gave the Torah it suddenly blossomed with flowers and greenery. Because of this, many have the custom to enhance their surroundings with flowers for the holiday.
Receiving the Torah Today
Shavuot is not just about remembering the day we received the Torah- it’s about receiving it anew every year.
At Sinai, every Jewish soul stood together, experiencing the ultimate revelation of G‑d’s oneness. But the real purpose of that moment was not just to witness holiness, but to bring it into our daily lives.
Each year on Shavuot, we are given the opportunity to reaccept the Torah, not just as our history, but as our personal mission. Each year, we are standing at Mt. Sinai for the very first time.
The 10 Commandments
עשרת הדברות
1.אָנֹכִי ה' אֱלֹקיךָ
2. לֹא יִהְיֶה לְךָ אֱלֹהִים אֲחֵרִים
3. לֹא תִשָּׂא אֶת שֵׁם ה' אֱלֹקיךָ לַשָּׁוְא
4. זָכוֹר אֶת יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת לְקַדְּשׁוֹ
5. כַּבֵּד אֶת אָבִיךָ וְאֶת אִמֶּךָ
6. לֹא תִרְצַח
7. לֹא תִנְאָף
8. לֹא תִגְנֹב
9. לֹא תַעֲנֶה בְרֵעֲךָ עֵד שָׁקֶר
10. לֹא תַחְמֹד
1. I am the L‑rd your G‑d.
2. You shall have no other gods before Me.
3. You shall not take the name of the L‑rd your G‑d in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet.
