Celebrate Shavuot with Shalom Sesame

Shavuot, which in Hebrew means “weeks”, is celebrated seven weeks after Passover. Each day between the two holidays is counted. On Shavuot, the Jewish people received the gift of the Torah and the wheat harvest begins in Israel. Both events play a part in the rituals and customs of the holiday.  

Watch the Shalom Sesame videos below with your children to learn about Shavuot and celebrate the giving of the Torah, then try some of the discussion ideas and activities below recommended by Reform Jewish educators to expand on the lessons from the videos.

Discuss

A springtime celebration of stories. The Jewish people are sometimes referred to as "the People of the Book" because storytelling, through the Torah and other Jewish texts, has shaped Jewish values for generations. Storytelling is also one of the best ways to share Jewish traditions. Your family can start by telling and retelling stories of your customs and celebrations and reading Jewish storybooks.

The importance of rules. At Mount Sinai, the Jewish people received the Ten Commandments, ten important rules to help them live together. What is a rule?  Why are rules important? Why do you think the Jewish people needed rules after they left Egypt?  Do you have family or class rules? What do you think life would be like if there were no rules?  Why is it sometimes hard to stick to the rules?

Harvesting wheat. Do you know how bread is made? Have you ever seen wheat growing in a field?  Can you describe it? In ancient times, Jewish people in Israel used to bring the very first sheaves of wheat to the Temple as a way of saying thank you for the good crops. What are some different ways to say “thank you”? Can you make up a special thank you to the farmer, the baker, and the store keeper who all help so that we can eat bread and other foods?

Activities

Decorate for Shavuot. A Jewish legend teaches that at the moment the Torah was given, Mount Sinai bloomed with flowers. This legend is the reason that greenery and flowers are used to decorate the home and synagogue on Shavuot. Make or collect flowers and branches and decorate your space in honor of Shavuot.

Tell stories through the year. Sharing classic Torah stories with kids can be a great way to communicate Jewish values. After you watch the animated version of Moses on Mount Sinai below, kids can draw their version of Mount Sinai, or you can create your family's very own Ten Commandments together. While you're at it, the biblical story associated with Shavuot is the Book of Ruth, which is a goldmine for teaching the importance of values like charity, friendship, kindness, and compassion.

Make your own Jewish stories. Many good stories are the result of collaborations between different people throughout Jewish history. Have your children work together to make books illustrating their favorite Jewish story—maybe even ask them to put a twist on the story, such as setting the story in modern times. Maybe one child can be the illustrator and the other can be the writer, or have each child complete their own page. Working together to tell stories is not only fun, but is also a great way to participate in this ancient Jewish tradition.

Stay up all night. The holiday of Shavuot celebrates the gift of the Torah to the Jewish people and is a great time to think about how to incorporate Jewish storytelling into your family's life. The most common Shavuot custom is staying up all night while studying the Torah. Kids love late-night festivities and you can celebrate the spirit of this tradition by designating a special "night of storytelling," when you stay up late reading your favorite books together.

The Staff of Life. Wheat is often called the "staff of life." Almost every culture has its own special kind of bread. Learn about different kinds of bread and the people who make them. You can find recipes, bake different kinds of bread, and eat it at your Shavuot celebration.  Some different breads include: challah, pita, chapati, and tortillas. 

First Fruits. Shavuot is also called Chag HaBikkurim – the festival of the first fruits. The first fruit of the wheat harvest in Israel was brought to the Temple on Shavuot. During the months following Shavuot until Sukkot, the first fruits of the Seven Species (wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates) were brought to the Temple when they ripened. The bikkurim (first fruits) were placed in baskets and brought to Jerusalem in a festive parade with music and dancing. Re-enact the pilgrimage complete with costumes and music.  

Watch

Moses on Mount Sinai
Grover and his friends share a story.

Harvesting Wheat
A young boy in Russia helps harvest wheat on his uncle’s farm.

Staying Up All Night
Avigail and Brosh study, sing, and stay up late while celebrating Shavuot!

Street Story: Countdown to Shavuot
Savta Shoshana is so excited for Shavuot that she uses her calendar to count down the days!

For more Shalom Sesame videos, activities, and other materials, visit our friends at Shalom Sesame.