Guest Author - Linda J. Paul

I am not Jewish, but the thing that I love and respect the most about Judaism is that it still honors it’s roots. Jewish tradition is passed down from generation to generation in the form of rites of passage, rituals, and ceremonies. And, the detail that goes into each ritual or ceremony is beautiful.

As a Pagan, I can definitely relate to the harvest festivals like Tu B'shvat and Shavout. I researched and led a Tu B’shvat Seder in my Unitarian Universalist church. Everyone loved it! They talked about it for weeks afterward in fact.

I can also relate to Hannukah as the mid-winter celebration. I love the story of the lamp and the oil and of course the lighting of the Menorah. Like the Jews, I see Jesus as an enlightened human being and not the son of God. I may not adhere to the God of the Torah, but I do feel very much at home with the Kabalistic version of El and Sophia.

So, there is a whole lot that I love about Judaism. The holiday of Shavuot actually has a whole lot to do with those of us who may not have been born Jewish, but, in some cases, wish to convert to Judaism. And, it is also about renewal of a Jew’s personal commitment to a life of Judaism.

The word Shavuot literally means “weeks.” Shavuot arrives exactly seven weeks after Passover. Although it originated as a harvest festival, over the centuries, the focus of Shavuot has shifted to the commemoration of the giving of the Torah to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai.

In the synagogue on Shavuot, the reading is from the Book of Ruth. According to the story, Ruth was not a Jew, but she made the vow to her mother-in-law: “Where you go, I will go, your God will be my God.” Her commitment helps to renew the faith of the Jewish people. Because of this vow, she is seen as the grandmother of King David, and, therefore of the Messianic line of Judaism.

The story of Ruth takes on new meaning during this time as it relates the story of a woman who accepted Judaism and its covenant with God of her own free will, even though she was not born into it.

There is one midrash or rabbinic story which tells that God offered the Torah to many different nations. Each nation turned it down in turn, for many different reasons. Finally, God offered it to the Jews. Without requiring an explanation of what it was they all spoke in once voice saying, ‘We will do and we will listen.”

On Shavuot, Jews renew their commitment to the Torah and to their covenant with God. Converts to Judaism are also honored on this day, as like Ruth, they are thought to inspire and renew those who have been born into the belief.

Some of those who have converted and also some who have been born Jews, go to the mikvah or ritual bath every year on Shavuot. The bath is a way to commemorate their conversion or as a reaffirmation of their covenant. Teenagers who have completed two years of the post bar or bat mitzvah Jewish education are often confirmed on Shavuot, and younger children who are beginning their religious studies are often consecrated.

Traditions on Shavuot are family study. It is customary, according to Jewish mystical tradition, to stay up all night studying and preparing for the revelation of the Torah. Some people go to the synagogues while others prefer to study at home.

Since Shavuot is also a harvest festival, the harvest of bikkurim or the first fruits is celebrated. On Shavuot, as on Passover and Sukkot, many Jews would go to Jerusalem. In their baskets they would carry the seven species of fruit of the Holy Land. Today, fresh fruit, specifically the fruits of Jerusalem are often placed in a basket in the center of the dining table as decoration.