Shavuot
A simple explanation of Shavuot in the ‘Beloved Country’ is; The day after Pesach we sing ‘Its 49 days till be get the Torah”…… Anyone with Kinderlach & Einingklach will remember those wonderful ‘Cassette tapes’ form Oshy Tugendtaft & the ‘Marathon Man’ Johnny Birin….The Kinderlach used to play them over and over again, and our Einingklach still listen to them…… E-mazing songs for the Einingklach …….. https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=5bU2qYUuKk4
Shavuot is more than just getting the Torah on Mount Sinai…….
Yidden all over the world will celebrate Shavuot also known as “feast of weeks” which commemorates the revelation of the Torah on Mt. Sinai to the Jewish people.
“The Torah was given by G-d to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai on Shavuot more than 3,300 years ago. Every year on the holiday of Shavuot
we renew our acceptance of G-d’s gift, and G-d ‘re-gives’ the Torah,”
Today, we celebrate Shavuot by going to synagogue to hear the 10 Commandments, having festive meals of dairy foods, staying up all night to learn and reading the Book of Ruth. Various Shuls organize Shavuot dinners and after the dinner start with the Tikkun Leil …at some Shuls they learn the whole night to learn the Torah because the day that it was supposed to be given, the Jews accidentally overslept.
Now, we show that we are making up for the mistakes of our ancestors and are excited to stay up late learning Torah. ...Many communities will have learn-athons that go until sunrise and then say morning prayers together…and then have breakfast
Shavuot is a holiday on which traditional Jews do not do certain categories of "work", for example using electricity, riding in cars, writing, and using the telephone. In this way it is similar to Shabbat. However, cooking and carrying, which are not allowed on Shabbat, are allowed on this holiday.
Why is Shavuot 50 days after Passover?
Celebration of Shavuot occurs on the 50th day, or seven weeks, after the sheaf offering of the harvest celebrated during Passover. The holiday is therefore also called Pentecost from the Greek pent?kost? (“50th”)
Yiskor is receited on the last morning of Shavuot……..
Ruth, of the Book of Ruth, was a Moabite woman who became a Jew after the death of her husband. …. She stays with her mother-in-law Naomi, and later marries Boaz and becomes an ancestor of King David, whom the Messiah will be a descendant of.
Ruth is perhaps the most famous convert in all of Jewish history. Ruth’s story relates to that of the Jewish people, who wanted to be given the Torah and become servants of Hashem.
Remember to pick up a cheesecake from your favourite bakery (or make your own!), put on your best clothes for synagogue,
and be prepared for some eye-opening and engaging learning. And oh yeah – don’t forget the coffee. You’ll need it!
Cheesecake!
Holidays and food go hand in hand. So, when someone says Shavuot, the first thing we think of is the giving of the Torah, but the second thing that comes to mind is cheesecake! Why?, “It is customary to eat dairy food on Shavuot for a number of reasons.
One reason is that Shavuot is linked to the Exodus from Egypt into the Promised Land, and it is written ‘From the misery of Egypt to a country flowing with milk and honey ……………..
Regarding the dairy foods, there are many explanations. One of the most popular ones is that when we were receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai,
we were pure and innocent like new-born babies are, and babies subsist on milk. Thus, we have cheesecake, chocolate milk, cheese and crackers,
yogurts, milkshakes and many other delicious dairy treats.
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My Late Bobba & Mother used to make many ‘Gerichten’ for Shavuot and one the favourites was the Lokshen pudding baked with cream and raisins….Nice and crisp …
Another favourite was Shaltenosis, …. Sour Cheese Blitzes that looked like Kreplach…. Very refreshing after all the sweet cakes….
‘Amolikke Yoren’ at Stan & Pete we used to do at least 5/6 dinners at virtually the same Shuls…. Remember Marie Bickoff from Sydenham Shul.
The Late Minnie Lain from Oxford Shul brings back such fond memories, as we always argued about the cost of the Cheese cakes, and one day after many years, I said to Minnie, the Cheese cakes are on the house for future holidays and we remained Good Chavers till she passed away……
I have fond memories of the Shavuot Dinners we did at the Glenhazel Shul (Yeshiva College) … did 23 Dinners in a row there with my Chaver Steve Adler and the congregation….Good times, BUT….it was always freezing, and our kitchen was in the Sukkah……. Brrrrrrrrrrrr and at all the Shuls we used to leave a Good Minestroni and OUR famous Bean Soup for the all night learning…
The cost of Cheese in the Beloved Country is Skikky, and I feel sorry for those who sell cheese cakes/Blintzes retail, as the customers moan and moan….. If you do the costing it’s Tukka Skrikky
Rabbi Kaplan & Ashley Lazarus @ Yom Yerushalayim . Ashley has produced the Various Meisa’s from Pesach to Shavuot..
The Kay family have Tukka gone out of their way to keep the ‘Neshoma of ‘Eli Kay’ alive….
Jessie and the late Cliffy Kay, Nachi and Avi Kay and their sisters together with the whole of the Jewish world were shocked when Eli, who was on his way to go to Daven at the Kotel was killed by an Arab Hamas terrorist who just wished to open fire on any Jew on that particular day.
Nachi Kay is the current Chairman of Sydenham shul and together with Bnei Akiva- Mizrachi put together one of the best Jewish concerts in the history of the Jewish community in Johannesburg when they brought out the Solomon Brothers, who were a tremendous success. A special tribute on Yom Yerushlayim to Eli Kay, who gave the ultimate sacrifice to Israel.. .
To continue in the spirit of the last few weeks, they have started “ The Eli Kay Letters for Torah” where they will put together money for writing a brand new Sefer Torah in the name of Eli Kay.
Whoever is interested can call Sydenham shul directly on 011 6405021 and ask for Leanne or they can call Mizrachi and ask for Ilana Emdin on 0834596197.
Wishing you all a Good Yom tov.
The Ten Commandments Sermon …………..
Abe and Sadie made a rare appearance in synagogue.
It’s probably true to say that they are not the most religious of Jews. In fact, they only go to shul two or three times every year, and this Shavuot happened to be one of those days.
At the end of the service, Abe shook Rabbi Rosen’s hand.
"Sadie and I both thoroughly enjoyed your service today, Rabbi, especially your sermon on keeping the commandments."
Rabbi Rosen replied, "It’s nice of you to say so, Abe; so why don’t you and Sadie come here more often?"
"It’s difficult," he replied, "but at least we keep the Ten Commandments."
"That's really good to hear," said Rabbi Rosen.
"Yes," said Abe proudly, "Sadie keeps 6 of them and I keep the other 4."
Always on the Prowl………………….Looking for the Gunovim. ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
Murphy showed up at Mass one Sunday & the priest nearly fell down when he saw him.
He'd never been to church in his life.
After Mass, the priest caught up with him & said,
"Murphy, I am so glad ya decided to come to Mass. What made ya come?"
Murphy said, "I got to be honest with you Father.
A while back, I misplaced me hat & I really, really love that hat.
I know that McGlynn had a hat just like mine & I knew he came to church every Sunday.
I also knew that he had to take off his hat during Mass & figured he would leave it in the back of church. So, I was going to leave after Communion & steal McGlynn's hat."
The priest said, "WELL, MURPHY, I NOTICE THAT YA DIDN'T STEAL McGLYNN'S HAT.
WHAT CHANGED YOUR MIND?"
Murphy replied, "Well, after I heard your sermon on the 10 Commandments I decided that I didn't need to steal McGlynn's hat after all."
With a tear in his eye, the priest gave Murphy a big smile & said, "After I talked about
'Thou Shalt Not Steal' ya decided you would rather do without your hat than burn in hell, eh?"
Murphy slowly shook his head.
"No, Father, after ya talked about 'Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery',
I remembered where I left me hat....!!!!!"
The Second Ten Commandments
Thou shall not worry, for worry is the most unproductive of all human activities.
Thou shall not be fearful, for most of the things we fear never come to pass.
Thou shall not cross bridges before you come to them, for no one yet has succeeded in accomplishing this.
Thou shall face each problem as it comes. You can only handle one at a time anyway.
Thou shall not take problems to bed with you, for they make very poor bedfellows.
Thou shall not borrow other people's problems. They can better care for them than you can.
Thou shall not try to relive yesterday for good or ill, it is forever gone.
Concentrate on what is happening in your life and be happy now!
Thou shall be a good listener, for only when you listen do you hear ideas different from your own. It is hard to learn something new when you are talking, and some people do know more than you do.
Thou shall not become "bogged down" by frustration, for 90% of it is rooted in self-pity and will only interfere with positive action.
Thou shall count thy blessings, never overlooking the small ones, for a lot of small blessings add up to a big one.
Commandment 1
Marriages are made in heaven.
But then again, so is thunder and lightning.
Commandment 2
If you want your wife to listen and pay strict attention to every word you say,
talk in your sleep.
Commandment 3
Marriage is grand -- and divorce is at least a 100 grand!
Commandment 4
Married life is very frustrating.
In the first year of marriage, the man speaks and the woman listens.
In the second year, the woman speaks and the man listens.
In the third year, they both speak and the neighbors listen.
Commandment 5
When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing:
Either the car is new or the wife is.
Commandment 6
Marriage is when a man and woman become as one;
The trouble starts when they try to decide which one.
Commandment 7
Before marriage, a man will lie awake all night thinking about something you said .
After marriage, he will fall asleep before you finish.
Commandment 8
Every man wants a wife who is beautiful, understanding, economical, and a good cook.
But the law allows only one wife.
Commandment 9
Marriage and love are purely a matter of chemistry.
That is why one treats the other like toxic waste.
Commandment 10
A man is incomplete until he is married. After that, he is finished.
BONUS COMMANDMENT STORY …..
A long married couple came upon a wishing well.
The wife leaned over, made a wish and threw in a penny.
The husband decided to make a wish too.
But he leaned over too much, fell into the well, and drowned.
The wife was stunned for a moment, but then smiled, 'It really works!' (OY….Vy)
How Moses got the 10 Commandments....
God went to the Arabs and said,
"I have Commandments for you that will make your lives better.
The Arabs asked, "What are Commandments?"
And the Lord said, "They are rules for living."
"Can you give us an example?"
"Thou shall not kill."
"Not kill?. No way, we're definitely not interested."
He went to the Africans and said, "I have Commandments"
The Blacks wanted an example also, and the Lord said,
"Honour thy Father and Mother."
"Father? We don't know who our fathers are."
Then He went to the Mexicans and said, "I have Commandments."
The Mexicans also wanted an example, and the Lord said
“Thou shall not steal."
"Not steal? No thanks we're not interested."
Then He went to the French and said, "I have Commandments."
The French too wanted an example and the Lord said,
"Thou shall not commit adultery."
"Not commit adultery? You're Joking Lord, we're not interested."
Finally, He went to the Jews and said, "I have Commandments."
"Commandments?" They said, "How much are they?"
"They're free."
"Great, In that case we'll take 10."
That ought to offend just about everybody!
In Gratitude to all who are involved in the Yom Yerushlayim /Eli Kay Torah project Shakeach
The Alan Menachemson family sends a big Mazeltov……
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