Shavuot - What is this Holiday by Linda B.

Shavuot is the Hebrew word for “weeks” and refers to the Jewish festival marking the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, which occurs seven weeks after Passover. Shavuot, like many other Jewish holidays, began as an ancient agricultural festival that marked the end of the spring barley harvest and the beginning of the summer wheat harvest. In ancient times, Shavuot was a pilgrimage festival during which Israelites brought crop offerings to the Temple in Jerusalem. Today, it is a celebration of Torah, education, and actively choosing to participate in Jewish life.

  Shavuot begins at sunset May 14, 2013 and lasts until nightfall May 16, 2013

"You shall count for yourselves -- from the day after the Shabbat, from the day when you bring the Omer of the waving -- seven Shabbats, they shall be complete. Until the day after the seventh sabbath you shall count, fifty days... You shall convoke on this very day -- there shall be a holy convocation for yourselves -- you shall do no laborious work; it is an eternal decree in your dwelling places for your generations." -Leviticus 21:15-16, 21

Torah Quote on Bar Mitzvah Card

Jews can no longer bring the first fruits of their harvest to the Temple in Jerusalem, so there are no particular mitzvot, or commandments, associated with Shavuot. There are, however, several rituals that are traditional components of celebrating the holiday.

Beaded Wire Kippah - Gold with White Pearls - 5"

Many people stay up all night studying Torah. This custom evolved from the story that says that when the Israelites were at Sinai, they overslept and had to be awakened by Moses. As a result, many modern Jews stay up all night to study and celebrate receiving the Torah. 

These events, known as Tikkun Leil Shavuot, which literally means “Rectification for Shavuot Night,” are understood as the custom of studying with a community in order to re-experience standing at Mount Sinai, where the Jewish people received the Torah. The Tikkun Leil Shavuot was developed by 16th century mystics in Safed, who believed that by studying on Shavuot, they were symbolically preparing Israel to enter into a sacred relationship with God. Modern interpretations and versions of this practice include study on a wide range of topics.

Judaica Star of David Earrings

In recent years, Tikkunim have become extremely popular for all Israeli Jews. In Jerusalem, one can spend the whole night wandering from tikkun to tikkun, which are held in homes, synagogues, community centers, and educational institutions of every religious and ideological flavor. Most of these gatherings use the name, but ignore the traditional format. They simply are evenings of study for the sake of study and fellowship, and the various themes and topics they address are endless. (Sounds fun to me, doesn't it?)

Dichronic Glass Hamsa Necklace

It also is customary to eat dairy foods on Shavuot because Jewish tradition compares the words of Torah to the sweetness of milk and honey. Blintzes and cheesecake are among the popular foods to make and enjoy for the holiday.

At one small synagogue I belonged to, one woman always made cheesecake before the holiday, chocolate or pumpkin, and it was delicious. I'll always associate her cheesecake with the holiday. (She now lives in another state).

Red/Black Glass Flower Bowl

In the Congregation
Traditionally the Book of Ruth, part of the Bible section known as Writings, is read during services on Shavuot. Ruth is a young Moabite woman who married an Israelite man. When her husband died, she followed her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to Israel and adopted the Jewish faith and people as her own. To feed herself and Naomi, she gleaned in the field of Boaz, a rich man. Boaz is taken with her, and eventually they marry. Among their descendents is the famed King David who built the first Temple.

Bat Mitzvah Original Painting

The theme of Ruth’s conversion to Judaism is central to this story. In Ruth 1:16–17, she states: “Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following after you. For wherever you go, I will go. Wherever you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. Thus and more may God do to me if anything but death parts me from you.” Ruth is often considered to be the archetype of all who “choose” or convert to Judaism—accepting the Torah, just as Jews accepted the Torah at Mt. Sinai—and this passage traditionally has been understood as her conversion statement.

The ceremony of Confirmation—for high school students who have continued their studies and Jewish involvement beyond b’nei mitzvah—often is held on or near Shavuot. Just as the Jewish people accepted the Torah on Shavuot, so do confirmands reaffirm their commitment to the covenant and adult Jewish life.

Hand Towel Embroidered with Star of David

At Home
It is customary to decorate ones home with greens and fresh flowers on Shavuot as a reminder of the spring harvest and the ancient ritual of bringing the first fruits to the Temple. Many Jews prepare and eat dairy foods—often cheesecake or blintzes—on Shavuot as a reminder of the sweetness of Torah. Often families gather together on the holiday to enjoy a meal that features such dishes.

By Linda Blatchford Linda's B Jewelry of LinorStore
Originally posted at LinorStore Blog

Passover Recipes from EtsyChai Members

Need more Passover recipes? Here are some great ideas.

Here’s a couple of recipes from Nelle at Oy Clay! Pottery
Matzoh Lasagna
Substitute the noodles in you favorite Lasagna recipe with strips of matzoh and voila! Well this one sounded real good so I told my friend about it. She added this cool twist substituting ground pecans for meat (she used to be a vegetarian). I tried it and it was good. The secret to using the nut meal is to mix it with cheese (ricotta or cottage cheese works very well) and an egg, then add it to the lasagna or whatever else you are cooking. So, when making the lasagna, use sliced yellow squash or zucchini in your layers, the nut mixture, cheese, and the matzoh. Not too shabby, in fact, pretty darned good.

Savory Matzoh Bake
Onions, mushrooms, peppers with any other veggies you like, seasoned however you like (think Garlic, salt, pepper, a touch of oregano, a little rosemary…fresh if you got it). A little chicken or veggie broth to soften the matzo and bake until the veggies are fork tender……if you’re using vegetable broth you can add a little cheese, maybe cheddar, swiss, parmesan, or jack….if you’re using chicken broth, you can add chunks of cooked chicken.

Matzoh Quiche/Frittata
You’ll need about 2 cups of veggies, 4 eggs, maybe 1/2 cup of shredded cheese, and 2 matzos crumbled up. Put the matzoh in a pie pan and add the vegetables. Break the eggs in a bowl, scramble and add salt, pepper, and paprika (herbs are good, too) then add the cheese to the eggs and mix. Pour the egg-cheese mixture over the matzoh and veggies. Cook at 350 degrees until the top is golden brown, about 40-45 minutes.

Mark Kaplan makes a Matzoh Pizza that sounds absolutely divine!

Make a relish mixture with sun-dried tomatoes, olive oil, a splash of balsamic vinegar, kalamata olives, and spices (garlic and oregano for me) and spread the mixture over matzoh. Add parmesan flakes on top and bake the pizzas until the cheese is golden. Yum! I’m going to try it with the ground nut mixture….just for fun. Maybe a few sautéed onions and mushrooms, too.

Dessert recipes:

Matzoh S’mores! Matzah, chocolate, and marshmallows in the oven until melted.
Sweet Matzoh Kugel 
Apples, cinnamon sugar, raisins and matzoh, with butter or margarine. Bake at 350F for 45 minutes. Make sure you sprinkle cinnamon/sugar on top. too.

Passover Apple Crisp (this one’s from me, GoofingOff)

6 large apples (Granny Smith or Jonathon) 1/2 cup of sugar 1/4 cup butter or margarine 1/2 cup matzoh meal 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Peel, core, and slice the apples. Place the apples in a baking dish sprayed with PAM (you can butter it, too…you have my permission). Mix the sugar, matzoh meal, and cinnamon, then cut in the butter or margarine. You want it chunky, not smooth and creamy. Sprinkle the mixture over the apples and bake at 350 degrees until the apples are bubbly and the topping is lightly browned. You can add chopped walnuts or pecan, too, for a little bit of fun. If there’s Passover ice cream, now’s the time to use it.


Matzoh Apple and Raisin Pudding from Meredith Laskow
Make this pudding like you would a bread pudding, with eggs and milk but use matzoh instead of bread. Season with nutmeg and cinnamon. She also makes the pudding with bananas instead of apples and raisins.

From April Greenspun of Agru Ceramic Arts comes a matzoh coffee crunch for breakfast. Her hubby takes coffee, adds milk, breaks up the matzoh into it (like large pieces of cereal) and adds sugar to taste. Fast and easy. I guess if you added chocolate syrup you would have a mocha crunch. Take that, Starbucks!

I know, this was supposed to be all about matzoh and, for the most part, it is, but not everyone shared matzoh recipes. Some team members shared wonderful recipes that work for Pesach and the rest of the year, like this incredible COCONUT MACAROON recipe that I have to share (yes, I know all caps is shouting but a coconut macaroon recipe should be shouted about).

From Greg Sager of Greg’s Creative Outlet 
Chocolate Chip Coconut Macaroons
Ingredients
1 14-oz. Bag sweetened shredded coconut
2 cups chocolate chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk


Mix ingredients together. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased parchment paper. Bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees until slightly browned. Store in an airtight container.

That’s the ones I found. I hope I didn’t lose too many of the originals. I think I will drown my sorrows in chicken soup and matzoh balls if I did (don’t want a hangover, I’d rather run my tush off instead). I found other recipes on the net but don’t want to share if I don’t try them out first.

Till next time, I’m GoofingOff!

Passover Treasures

Thank you, Hema of Anjalicreations for curating this beautiful Etsy Treasury of Passover Treasures - Visit the shops to see what other beautiful items you can purchase. 

These are some of the specials in our shops for your Passover Seder or your Passover Seder Hostess. 

Passover Gift Tag by BBesigns

Free shipping code "chai13"

Passover Seder Plate Bracelet by Linda B 

15% off purchases totaling $15 or more - Use Code Pass15for2013

Sectioned Matzah Cover

10% off code through March 15, PESACH5773FOR10

Charoset Bowl by Yafit

Free shipping on an order of two items or more. Code chai 13

Magen David Tablet by Meredith

10% off all product with Code "pass13"

Kos Miriam for Passover

Free shipping on an order of two items or more. Code 'chai 13'

We wish you a Hag v'kasher Pesach. 

By: Linda Blatchford, Team Captain

Judaica Gifts For Passover

The members of EtsyChai make Judaica items that are perfect as gifts for your Passover Seder Hostess or Host.

Please visit these collections and get in touch with the shop owner to make sure you can get your item delivered when you want it.

Have a Handmade Passover

Hamsa Treasury on Etsy

Flavor of Passover

See our prior post for shop specials.

Thank you and Hag Sameach!