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The Festivals and Events in Israel include a few occasions which have stemmed from ancient customs prevalent among the essentially agricultural community which inhabited the country. Many of these festivals, like the Shavuot or Passover, have mingled religious associations with the local traditions to give the Jews some events steeped in a rich cultural and traditional value. As Israel observes each of these events with an equal dedication, the occasions continue to be of national importance even in the present years. Shavuot in Israel is one such festival which the country, and of course the Jewish community outside it observe each year to preserve a tradition which their ancestors in the ancient era had performed. Shavuot or Shavuos is a national holiday on the sixth day of Sivan. The festival generally falls in the late May according to the Georgian calendar. Shavuot, for the Jews is an occasion which bears a dual connotation. The religious value of Shavuot stems from the Biblical episode of Exodus. In fact, Shavuot is believed to be the day when the Jews received the Torah from God and thus vowed an eternal commitment to Him. Coupled with the Biblical connotation, the day is marked with another value for the agricultural land of Israel. The Torah itself refers to the day as Hag ha-katzir, or a feast of harvest. As the period when Shavuot falls, is the time for reaping the year’s yield of wheat, the festival naturally gathers some local customs as a part of its celebration. Shavout is one of the three Jewish festivals during which the Jews offered their harvests at Jerusalem. Shavuot of Israel is therefore a time for celebrating the harvest and just as the ancient Jews trooped to Jerusalem to offer their harvests to God, the Jewish community today continues the tradition of valuing the harvest. A staple feast for the day therefore comprises of the seven crops for which Israel is praised. Food made from wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates are generally present on the Jewish tables on Shavuot as the families enjoy a happy meal together. Shavuot in Israel is a national holiday, with a day long festivity in every home. After the special services held at the synagogues, the country celebrates the day with several rituals, like decorating the houses, reading the Book of Ruth and eating dairy products.
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