CBS SCHEDULE OF SHAVUOT SERVICES
Saturday, May 26
Mincha/Service to Welcome the Festival of Shavuot - 8:00 PM
The Tikkun Leyl Shavuot - Jew-parody! The Game Show
This humorous Jeopardy! approach to the elusive facts of the bible will
be presented as a fun way by which to begin our evening's study. Come
and test your knowledge along with the three contestants followed by
additional learning. We will begin shortly after the conclusion of the
service.
Sunday, May 27
Festival Service & Special Procession of the "First Fruits" - 9:30 AM
Mincha/Ma'ariv Services - 7:45 PM
Monday, May 28 (Memorial Day)
Festival Service/Yizkor - 9:30 AM
Mincha/Ma'ariv/Conclusion of Festival - 8:15 PM
SHAVUOT
The Meaning of the Holiday
Shavuot, also known as the "Feast of Weeks", was originally celebrated as a Thanksgiving for the "First Fruits." The Torah refers to Shavuot as "Chag HaBikkurim"
- the festival of the first fruits, which our ancestors observed by
bringing to the Temple offerings of the best, ripe produce of the
fields. During the period leading up to Shavuot, we count each day
beginning on the Second Night of Passover. This counting, "Sefirat Ha 'Omer",
highlighted our ancestors' hopes that Shavuot , the end of the Omer
counting, would yield a bountiful crop. Coincidentally, the Omer period
encompasses many of the tragedies of our people over the years.
Therefore, it is customary to prohibit weddings during a specific part
of the seven weeks as a sign of national mourning.
In
addition to being an agricultural festival, Shavuot is also a
celebration of the Jewish Peoples' receiving the Torah at Mt. Sinai.
Although the Torah does not identify Shavuot in this context, the Talmud
has an undisputed tradition that the Torah was given at this time.
Therefore, the Ten Commandments are read in the Synagogue on the first
day of this two-day Holiday, and on the first night of Shavuot, study is
the theme.
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