May 2009 - Temple Emanu-El

ShavuotRitual4Customs of ShavuotLighting Shavuot CandlesOn Shavuot, Jews light candles and recite the following blessings:Barukh Ata Adonai, Eloheynu Melekh Ha-OlamAsher Kid-shanu B'Mitz-votav, V'tzi-vanuL'had-lik Neyr Shel Yom TovBlessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who hastaught us the way of holiness through the commandments, and hascommanded us to kindle the Festival light.Barukh Ata Adonai, Eloheynu Melekh Ha-OlamSheh-heh-kheh-yanu, V'kiy-manu, V'higi-anu L'zman H'zehBlessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has keptus in life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season.Decorating with Greenery and FlowersThere is a custom to decorate homes and synagogues with greenery,as Shavuot is a harvest holiday. In the time of the Temple, the firstfruits were brought on Shavuot.We also decorate with flowers, as Shavuot commemorates the givingof the Torah on Mount Sinai. It is said that although Mount Sinai islocated in the desert, the desert bloomed with flowers when theTorah was given to the Jewish People.Dairy FoodIt is customary to eat dairy food on Shavuot. The most popularreason given is that we were given the laws of kashrut (kosherdietary laws) when we were given the Torah. While in Sinai, the Jewsdid not have the utensils needed to prepare kosher meat, so they ateonly dairy.Others say that eating dairy shows restraint. When the Jewish peopleaccepted the Torah and committed themselves to follow it, theycommitted themselves to leading lives with restraints.Tikun Lail Shavuot"Tikun Lail Shavuot" is the custom of staying up all night long onShavuot to study Torah. Studying Torah the entire night is one wayto celebrate the anniversary of its giving.Some say we study all night to compensate for the behavior of theJewish people at Mount Sinai. They slept so soundly that they had tobe awakened by God with thunder and lightning at daybreak toprepare to receive the Torah.Shavuot ServicesIt is customary for everyone, even children and infants, to attendsynagogue on Shavuot to hear the reading of the TenCommandments from the Torah. Thus, we relive the historic eventwhen the Jews received the Torah and committed themselves toobserve it. Yizkor is recited after the Torah reading on Shavuot.The Book of RuthAshkenazi Jews read the Book of Ruth during the morning serviceson Shavuot. Some say this book is read because the story takes placeduring the harvest season. Another reason given is that Ruth'sconversion is similar to the Jewish people's acceptance of the Torah.Ruth was King David's ancestor, and it is believed that King Davidwas born and died on Shavuot.The Ritual Committee, under the guidance of our amazing HighHoly Days director, Dawn Chaffin, has been working diligently tocreate a High Holy Days honors system that recognizes thecommitment of our Temple leadership and exceptional volunteers -those who help to make the Temple what it is.Therefore,we will havea set offixed honorsdesigned torecognizecongregantswho havecontributedtheir time,effort andotherresources tothebettermentof ourTemplecommunity.Thesehonors maybe readingparts, Torah- relatedhonors orArkopening. Ofcourse, ashas becomeour minhag(custom),we will continue to choose B’nai Mitzvah, confirmation students ofthe past year, as well as Minyan leaders to chant Torah and Haftarah.In addition, we will have a host of honors available for committeechairs, auxiliary Presidents, and Board of Trustees members to assignto congregants who have contributed during the past year.The High Holy Days honors process is truly a partnership with theRitual Committee, clergy and our temple leadership. We appreciatethe hard work of our congregants who give of their time andresources throughout the year and especially we would like torecognize everyone who makes the High Holy Days at TempleEmanu-El such a special experience.If you are interested in working to implement this honors process,we are looking for a few more volunteers. Please contact MarkCahn at cahnscience@earthlink.net. This process will allow us todo our best to ensure that those individuals who have devotedtheir energy and commitment to our Temple community have therecognition during the High Holy Days that they deserve.