Questions tagged [shavuos]
The holiday of Shavuos takes place on the sixth of Sivan. It commemorates the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai.
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LeDavid Mizmor in Shavout morning
Following this question. The answer for why saying in Shabbat morning, Mizmor Ledavid (Ashkenaz, Nosah Sfard) and on a regular day and on Yom Tov that is not Shabbat, LeDavid Mizmor is that on Shabbat ...
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Why count the Omer?
The Torah enjoins us to count the Omer for agricultural reasons [Leviticus 23:15-17]. Later, the counting was reinterpreted as eager anticipation for the giving of the Torah on Shavuot.
(1) What is ...
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What is the source that the "skies open up" on Shavuat night?
I remember having been taught that the "skies open up" on Shavuot and that there is a tradition to go outside on the night of Shavuot and do personal tefilot at night.
I can attest to ...
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Sadducees versus Pharisees about Shavuot
When the Sadducees tried to argue that Shavuot comes on the Sunday after the first Shabbat in Pessah (because the Torah says "the day after Shabbat") Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakkai countered them ...
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What does Shavuot commemorate? [duplicate]
When did the tradition of interpreting Shavuot as commemorating the giving of the Torah ("Zman matan toratenu") begin and what is the first source for that?
In the Torah itself, Shavuot is ...
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Where in the Torah is the "ascending order of importance" derived?
Where in the Torah is the "ascending order of importance" derived, as used by the Temple Institute in describing the basket of firstfruits?
They wrote,
[> "The fruits were arranged ...
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When do we read Megillat Ruth?
This question has two parts:
In the Diaspora, is Megillat Ruth read on the first day or the second day of Shavuot?
At what point in the service is it read: before Hallel, after the Haftarah, at the ...
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Early maariv prayer and Kiddush on the night of Shavuot - what are the halachic considerations?
I always remembered communities waiting for nightfall before praying Maariv on Shavuot night (to fulfill "seven complete weeks"). I recently learned this was not the case in every community, ...
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We already had the Torah?
According to the Gemoro in Yuma (28B) the forefathers already observed the Torah in it's entirety (according to the understanding of Ramban and the Shaloh in Toldot Adam, Beit HaBechira 4), ...
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Which chag also celebrates or renews a brit or similar?
What do our rabbis of blessed memory say about Shavuos, or any chag that celebrates the purposes of that chag as well as at the same time celebrates or renews a previous brit or similar? From shul I ...
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Is Akdomus a Dvor Shebikedushah which would require a minyan to read it?
There are communities which still are in lock-down and will be unable to have a minyan on Shavuos. Members of some of these communities, will read the Torah portion at home.
My question asks first ...
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Contradiction in the Taz between early Shavuos and early Shemini Atzeres
In his disagreement with the Maharshal's ruling not to start Shemini Atzeres early, the Taz's first objection is a long poetic rendition about why we shouldn't forbid something that isn't mentioned in ...
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Why do the “Shtei HaLechem” not play a prominent part in the davenning for Shavuos?
The “Shtei HaLechem” are brought on Shavuos accompanied by 1 bull, 2 ram, 9 sheep and a goat.
In the prayers for Shavuos (excluding piyyutim) the only mention of any of that is in the verse ...
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What did people say in Shemoneh Esrei and Kiddush of Shavuos when it didn't fall out on the 6th of Sivan?
During Shemoneh Esrei and Kiddush of Shavuos, we describe the Yom Tov as "this day of the holiday of Shavuos, the time of giving our Torah" (יום חג השבועות הזה זמן מתן תורתינו).
Before we had a fixed ...
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Why don't we stay up studying on the 2nd night of Shavu'ot?
From what I have seen, most people communities learn all night on just the 1st night of Shavu'ot and not the 2nd night. (Perhaps, there are some that do both nights.)
If in Diaspora, we tend to treat ...
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Why do we specifically recall the greenery of Har Sinai on Shavuos?
While there are several reasons why there is a custom to spread greenery in shul, one which is brought by the Mishnah Berurah (494:10) is that Har Sinai was covered with greenery.
Why is it ...
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Yetziv Pisgam and Chabakuk
One common Ashkenazi minhag on Shavuos is to recite the piyut (poem) of Yetziv Pisgam on the second day of Shavuot after the first Passuk of the Haftorah from Chabakuk. The first letter of each line ...
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According to those who argue on R’ Yehudah, why do we bring the Shtei HaLechem on Shavuos?
Rosh Hashanah 16a quotes the following teaching:
א"ר יהודה משום ר"ע ... מפני מה אמרה תורה הביאו שתי הלחם בעצרת מפני שעצרת זמן פירות האילן הוא אמר הקב"ה הביאו לפני שתי הלחם בעצרת כדי שיתברכו לכם ...
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Why is Shavuos one day and not seven? [duplicate]
Why is Shavuos just one day, instead of a full week?
Of the three Regalim (Pesach, Shavuos, and Sukkos), Shavuos is the only one which isn’t seven days long. Furthermore, in regards to bringing the ...
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Connection between Yovel and Shavuos?
Both Yovel and Shavuos are the fiftieth after a cycle of 7 sets of 7 (7 Shmittas, each 7 years/ 7 weeks each 7 days) and both are after “Shabbos” - we start counting the Omer “after Shabbos”, so ...
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Why is the Sinai revelation of the Decalogue called "Matan Torah"? [duplicate]
This question focuses on the term "Matan Torah" used everywhere, its practical and factual events (no metaphors, please). Also, this is not about the festival of Shavuos as in this question.
I've ...
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What exactly is the custom observed by Jews in Egypt on Shavuot using geese that is similar to Kaparot?
I'm not Jewish, so please forgive me if my question sounds ignorant.
I was researching the practice of Kaparot when I came across the following website:
Indeed, even when Maran [Rabbeinu Ovadia ...
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Three days before Matan Torah and three days of fast before Purim
Bnei Yisrael had to prepare themselves for three days before the giving of the Torah.
As a parallel to this receiving of the Torah, the Jews "accepted" the Torah on Purim (kiy'mu v'kiblu). The ...
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What did the ancient rabbis teach about the "new minchah" (Leviticus 23:16 and Numbers 28:26)?
What did the ancient rabbis teach about the "new minchah" (Leviticus 23:16 and Numbers 28:26)?
In shul, the discussion was about counting the omer. And then a mention of the "new minchah", with ...
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Tikkun Leil Shavuot for download
Do we have any pdf of Tikkun Leil Shavuot (Nusach Edot haMizrach)?
If not is there any syllabus (which portions from Tanach, Mishnayot, etc.) suggested by Chacham Ovadia Yosef or any other ...
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Would one fulfill Sefiras HaOmer by counting downwards (49-1)?
(following up from a previous question)
If one counted Sefiras Haomer downwards, for example:
Today is 49 days, which is 7 weeks to the Omer...
Today is 48 days, which is 6 weeks and 6 days to the ...
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Why do we count up (1-49) instead of counting down (49-1)? [duplicate]
I've heard an answer that makes a comparison to the reasoning for why we light Channukah candles upwards (1-8) from Shabbat 21b:
מעלין בקדש ואין מורידין
"we go up in holiness and don't decrease&...
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Why is Yom Tov Seven Days? Shavuot One?
The Three regalim got me thinking.
Firstly, why is Sukkot and Pesach specifically 7 days - what is behind this number?
Additionally, why is Sukkot and Pesach seven days long while Shavout only one?
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Why can't the Shtei HaLechem be baked on Shavuoth?
In Avoth 5:5 we learn that one of the 10 miracles in the Temple was that the Shtei HaLechem - the 2 breads brought on Shavuoth and eaten by the Cohanim - were never found to be invalid:
עֲשָׂרָה ...
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Rain 40 days after Shavous
I heard if it rains on the second (or first?) day of Shavuos, it will rain at some point during each of the next 40 (?) days.
It definitely has rained a decent amount, but is this a real thing? and ...
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Why is fasting not permitted in the first 12 day of Sivan?
The Yahrzeit for my father falls on 7 Sivan. In the past it was always my custom to fast on 8 Sivan unless it was a Shabbat. Then I would fast on 9 Sivan.
This came up in discussion with my (Chabad) ...
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Suggestions for Shavuot all-night learning session
Besides Meguilat Rut and the laws pertaining to Yom Tov in general, is there anything Lail Shavuot is specifically considered a good time to learn about, Torah-wise?
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Why don't I see the minhag to put grass in shul?
The Rema brings a minhag to put grass and other herbage in shul for Shavuos. I've seen this practiced only once. Why don't more Ashkenazi shuls follow this minhag?
I feel some would be tempted to say ...
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How can it be that David hamelech died on shavuos and Shabbos
The Gemara (Mesechet Shabbat) says that Shavuot can never fall on Shabbat. But it is known that David Hamelech was niftar on Shavuot and Shabbat?
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Why do we read Megillas Rus on Shavuos?
Why do most Ashkenazim read Megillas Rus on Shavuos?
I am sure there are multiple answers to this question. I would like as many as possible, with a preference for answers from earlier sources.
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Why do we choose to mourn over celebrate during the omer?
It seems like this time would be a time of singing and dancing as we count to shavuot. Why does the mourning of Rabbi Akiva's students trump the celebration of the coming shavuot holiday?
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Connection between the three Atzeret?
I noticed that there are three moments called Atzeret.
The seventh day of Pesach (Deuteronomy 16:8)
Shavuot (Pesachim 68b)
Shemini Atzeret (Leviticus 23:36)
But what is the connection between these ...
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Atzeret: Shavuot v.s. Simchat Torah
Both Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah as Shavuot are called 'Atzeret', both are about Matan Torah.
In what way are they comparable, and in which way are they different if both celebrate Matan Torah?
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Bracha on food and drinks eaten between dairy/meat/fish?
I do not know the answer to this, even though it comes up every Shabbos.
My usual behavior is not to make a bracha on the glass of juice between fish and meat. I don't know if this is correct.
I ...
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How long does a vow made "until it will be Shavuos" last?
The mishnah in Nedarim 8:3 gives the following general rule:
This is the rule: Anything that has a set time and he says, "until it
reaches that time," he is forbidden until that time. If he ...
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Hours for אהבה רבה on Shavuos; true or exaggeration?
In two recent shiurim I heard a story about a certain (don't remember the name) Yeshiva in pre-war Europe where they took (three?) hours to say אהבה רבה (the blessing before Shema) on the morning of ...
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Is there a Jewish midrash that parallels Christian tradition regarding Shavuot
I've read from a number of Christian sources that there is a Midrash pertaining to Shavuot that parallels the Christian tradition. However, I have not been able to find Jewish sources which support ...
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Were the Israelites' pots really ben yoman when they received the Torah?
In the Mishnah Brurah's explanation for the custom of eating dairy foods on Shavuot (Orach Chaim 494:12), he mentions that the Israelites' pots had been used for non-kosher food within the past 24 ...
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why don't we count the fiftieth day of sefira with a brocha? [duplicate]
It's a famous question but I'd like hear all different answers. The pasuk says תספרו חמישים יום, yet we only really count 49.
Why?
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Are there any minhagim which people do on shavous night as a substitute for staying up all night?
Are there any minhagim which people do on shavous night as a substitute for staying up all night? I just want to know if this type of minhag exists or existed.
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Yom Yerushalayim and the seven weeks of sefira
Commentators in many places have discussed the spiritual ascent that is associated with the seven weeks of sefira, from the time an offering of barley (representing animal feed) is brought, right ...
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If 1st day Shavuot occurred on Shabbat, could you begin early?
With the fixed calendar, now, the 1st day of Shavuot never occurs on Shabbat. On the 1st night of Shavu'ot many congregations wait to daven Ma'ariv until tzet so that the Omer counting should be tamim ...
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Is one commanded to hear the Ten Commandments on Shavuot?
Is it really an obligatory mitzvah to hear a reading of the Ten Commandments on the first day of Shavuot (as distinct from the general commandment to hear Torah)? What is the source, if any, for this ...
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Last line of Yetziv Pitgam
The Artscroll siddurim (that I've seen, I haven't done a full survey of the siddurim and machzorim) translate the last line of Yetziv Pitgam as a reference to Yonatan ben Uziel.
The Artscroll chumash,...
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Chupah (tallit gadol) above bimah on Shavuot
I was wondering as I hear it for the first time that one of my friend told me that they made a chupah (hung tallit gadol) above the bimah on Shavuot. He told me it's a custom that we do every year, ...
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