โฐ๏ธ Shavuot ืฉึธืืืึผืขืึนืช
May or June Ages 4โ11
Shavuot celebrates the day the Jewish people received the Torah at Mount Sinai. It is also the festival of the wheat harvest and first fruits.
๐ฌ Say: Chag Sameach! โ Happy holiday!
๐ When is Shavuot?
| 2026 | Begins at sundown on Thu, May 21, 2026 ยท ends at nightfall on Sat, May 23, 2026 |
|---|---|
| 2027 | Begins at sundown on Thu, Jun 10, 2027 ยท ends at nightfall on Sat, Jun 12, 2027 |
| 2028 | Begins at sundown on Tue, May 30, 2028 ยท ends at nightfall on Thu, Jun 1, 2028 |
Jewish days begin at sundown. Dates follow the calendar used outside Israel; some holidays are a day shorter in Israel.
๐ The story
Seven weeks after leaving Egypt, the Israelites camped at the foot of Mount Sinai. There was thunder and lightning, and the sound of a shofar. God gave the Ten Commandments, and Moses brought down two stone tablets. "Shavuot" means "weeks" โ the seven weeks counted from Passover.
In the days of the Temple, farmers brought their first fruits (bikkurim) to Jerusalem in decorated baskets, with music and celebration.
Today many people decorate the synagogue with flowers and greenery, stay up late learning Torah, and read the Book of Ruth โ a story about kindness and loyalty. And many families eat dairy foods like cheesecake and blintzes!
โจ How we celebrate
- Eating dairy foods (cheesecake, blintzes)
- Decorating with flowers and greenery
- Staying up to learn Torah
- Reading the Book of Ruth
- Hearing the Ten Commandments
๐ค Hebrew words to learn
| Torah | ืชึผืึนืจึธื |
| first fruits | ืึดึผืึผืึผืจึดืื |
| mountain | ืึทืจ |
| wheat | ืึดืึธึผื |
๐ A blessing: Welcoming Shavuot
ืึธึผืจืึผืึฐ ืึทืชึธึผื ืืณ ืึฑืึนืึตืื ืึผ ืึถืึถืึฐ ืึธืขืึนืึธื, ืฉึถืืึถืึฑืึธื ืึผ ืึฐืงึดืึฐึผืึธื ืึผ ืึฐืึดืึดึผืืขึธื ืึผ ืึทืึฐึผืึทื ืึทืึถึผื.
Say it: Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu melekh ha-olam, shehecheyanu vekiyemanu vehigianu lazman hazeh.
It means: Blessed are You, Lord our God, ruler of the universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this time.
Included when welcoming the festival according to community practice.
โ๏ธ Crafts & activities
Ten Commandments Tablets
You need: Gray cardstock, Markers, Scissors
- Cut two tablets with rounded tops.
- Number them 1โ5 and 6โ10.
- Write or draw each commandment in kid words, like "Honor your parents."
๐๏ธ Shavuot coloring pages
Shavuot quiz
What does Shavuot celebrate?
Where was the Torah given?
What does "Shavuot" mean?
Which food is popular on Shavuot?
Which book is read on Shavuot?
๐ญ Letโs talk
Which of the Ten Commandments do you think is most important for kids, and why?
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