Shavuot 2026, G-d’s Divine Feast is here
Shavuot 2026 (a two-day holiday, celebrated from sunset on May 21, 2026 until nightfall on May 23, 2026) coincides with the date that G‑d gave the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai more than 3,000 years ago. It comes after 49 days of eager counting, as we prepared ourselves for this special day.
It is celebrated by lighting candles, staying up all night to learn Torah, hearing the reading of the Ten Commandments in synagogue, feasting on dairy foods and more.
What Shavuot Commemorates
The word Shavuot (or Shavuos) means “weeks.” It celebrates the completion of the seven-week Omer counting period between Passover and Shavuot.
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.
The giving of the Torah was a far-reaching spiritual event—one that touched the essence of the Jewish soul for all times. Our sages have compared it to a wedding between G‑d and the Jewish people. Shavuot also means “oaths,” for on this day G‑d swore eternal devotion to us, and we in turn pledged everlasting loyalty to Him. Learn more about the giving of the Torah and what it means to us today.
In ancient times, two wheat loaves would be offered in the Holy Temple on Shavuot. It was also at this time that people would begin to bring bikkurim, their first and choicest fruits, to thank G‑d for Israel’s bounty.
Shavuot Celebration
שתי הלחם ~ Shtei halechem (sh-tay ha-lechem) ~ The Two Loaves. “minchah chadashah” — “a new meal-offering” “Ye shall bring out of your dwellings two wave-loaves of two tenth parts of an ephah; they shall be of fine flour, they shall be baked with leaven, for first-fruits unto HaShem….” (Leviticus 23: 17).
שָׁבוּעוֹת Shavuot ~ The Feast Of Weeks
“Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee; from the time the sickle is first put to the standing corn shalt thou begin to number seven weeks. And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto HaShem thy G-d after the measure of the freewill-offering of thy hand, which thou shalt give, according as HaShem thy G-d blesseth thee.” (Deuteronomy 16:9-10)
The Two Loaves which must be chametz, and which are described as bikkurim of the wheat harvest, is a new meal offering which God commands must be brought during the Feast of Weeks.
The Feast of Weeks celebrated 50 days after Pesach and the feast of Matzos (Unleavened Bread, (after counting seven weeks – 49 days). Shavuot is one of the three biblical pilgrimage holidays known as the shalosh regalim. It is also known as the feast of first fruits. It commemorates the revelation of the Torah on Mt. Sinai to the Jewish people – The Sinai Revelation. Marked also as a celebration of the first grain harvest, Chag HaKatzir, and the offering of first fruits, Yom HaBikurim. Shavuot means weeks. We are told to bring sacrificial offerings and have a day of rest, a holy convocation for God, expressing gratitude and joy.
Our Sages teach that Shavuot is a A Time For Healing because on that first Shavuot, God healed our ancestors of the wounds of rejection and redeem the sin of the people. By celebrating receiving the Torah, each year we reframe history, turning what once was a blemish on the people into a reaffirmation of loyalty and partnership.
As a metaphor for a wedding, Shavuot creates a re-commitment ceremony with God (the groom), and the people Israel (the bride) and Torah binding their relationship. The season relives the commitment of people who enter into a Covenant with God and then journey to the Promised Land. It was an arduous journey by a people struggling with post-traumatic stress, fears, insecurities and ambivalence.
Shavuot, is marked with many traditions. During Shavuot, we also read the Book of Ruth, a woman who voluntarily follows the laws and the God of her mother-in-law after her husband has died, even though she is a non-Jew. In her zealous behavior, we are reminded of “choosing,” once again, our own treasured tradition.
Ruth, considered the first convert, is rewarded for her righteousness by becoming the great-grandmother of King David, who is believed to have died on Shavuot. It is also the custom to study all night from the Prophet Ezekiel as well as passages from Torah, reinforcing the place of Torah in our hearts.
Shavuot is symbolically marked with two loaves, presented unto HaShem for a wave offering just as He has commanded. These Two wave loaves ~ Baked with leaven are synonymous with Shavuot. Concerning this, after the Children of Israel had departed Egypt, crossing the Sea of Reeds, they were on a journey to embrace destiny – to meet with the God of their fathers.
Their first stop, Mount Sinai, to personally meet HaShem, hold a feast unto Him and receive the Torah. The Sinai appointment was a prophetic sign which God gave to Moses when He told him, saying: “Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be the token unto thee, that I have sent thee: when thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve G-d upon this mountain.’ ” Exodus 3:12.
So, as the people journeyed through to the Promised Land, the desert became an alchemic process where the people had to mature spiritually and submit totally to the will and sovereignty of God. Concerning the Two Loaves, God spoke unto Moses, and and instructed him, saying: “Ye shall bring out of your dwellings two wave-loaves of two tenth parts of an ephah; they shall be of fine flour, they shall be baked with leaven, for first-fruits unto HaShem.
And ye shall present with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams; they shall be a burnt-offering unto HaShem, with their meal-offering, and their drink-offerings, even an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto HaShem. And ye shall offer one he-goat for a sin-offering, and two he-lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace-offerings.
And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the first-fruits for a wave-offering before HaShem, with the two lambs; they shall be holy to HaShem for the priest.” (Leviticus 23: 17-20).
Baruch Shem Kivod LeOlam Va’ed! Blessed be His glorious Majesty forever and ever! Amen!
[Our praise to You, Eternal our God, Sovereign of the universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth. Amen.]
May the joy of the Torah, which was given thousands of years ago at Sinai, on which day God healed our ancestors who stood at Sinai of all infirmities, thereby preparing them physically to receive the spiritual blessings which Torah brings, nurturing the soul and body, be our this Shavuot. Amen.
And may HaShem grant that you should receive the Torah joyously and in an “inner” way ~ Kabbalat HaTorah B’Simcha U’pnimiyout!
And may His shalom be upon us, granting us a wonderful Feast of Weeks! Shavuot Sameach! Happy Feast of Weeks. May the spiritual food bring physical liberty and wellness. Amen.
Yom Tov!
How Is Shavuot Celebrated?
- Women and girls light holiday candles to usher in the holiday, on both the first and second evenings of the holidays. Read the holiday candle-lighting procedure here.
- It is customary to stay up all night learning Torah on the first night of Shavuot. Read how and why we stay up here.
- All men, women and children should go to the synagogue to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments on the first day of Shavuot. Learn about the Ten Commandments here.
- As on other holidays, special meals are eaten, and no “work” may be performed. More on how we “rest” on Jewish holidays.
- It is customary to eat dairy foods on Shavuot. Menus range from traditional cheese blintzes to quiches, casseroles and more. Learn the reasons for eating dairy on Shavuot here.
- On the second day of Shavuot, the Yizkor memorial service is recited. Brush up on Yizkor here.
- Some communities read the Book of Ruth during morning services, as King David—whose passing occurred on this day—was a descendant of Ruth the Moabite. Read the Book of Ruth here.
- Some have the custom to decorate their homes (and synagogues) with flowers and sweet-smelling plants in advance of Shavuot. Read 7 classic reasons for this custom here.
Shavuot FAQ
What is Shavuot?
Shavuot is a Jewish holiday on the anniversary of the giving of the Torah to Moses on Mount Sinai. Coming after the 7-week Omer Count, It is also known as the Festival of Weeks.
Read: 11 Shavuot Facts Every Jew Should Know
What does Shavuot mean?
Shavuot means “weeks” and it is thus named because comes after counting 49 days (7 weeks) from the second day of Passover, each day becoming more refined and more ready for this special celebration.
Read: What Is the Meaning of Shavuot?
When is Shavuot celebrated?
Shavuot is a two-day holiday. Coming after the seven-week Omer count, it is celebrated on the sixth and seventh days of the Hebrew month of Sivan, which usually falls in late May or early June on the Gregorian calendar.
Read: When Is Shavuot This Year?
How long is Shavuot?
In Israel, Shavuot is just one day long, beginning before sunset and concluding after night has fallen the following day. In the diaspora, it is a two-day holiday, extending for another 24 hours.
Read: Why The Extra Day in the Diaspora?
How to celebrate Shavuot?
Shavuot is celebrated by lighting candles each night, staying up all night studying Torah, hearing the 10 Commandments during synagogue services, and eating festive meals, some of which may include dairy foods.
Explore: Shavuot Laws & Customs
Is work permitted on Shavuot?
Like other holidays (yom tov), work is not allowed on Shavuot, with the exception of certain forms of food prep (such as cooking on a preexisting flame) and carrying without an eruv.
Read: Laws of Yom Tov
What is the significance of eating dairy foods on Shavuot?
One explanation is that the Torah is compared to milk and honey, and dairy foods symbolize the sweetness and richness of the Torah.
Read: Why Eat Dairy on Shavuot?
Why is the Book of Ruth read on Shavuot?
The story of Ruth takes place during the barley harvest, which coincides with the time of Shavuot. Ruth’s journey to convert to Judaism and join the Jewish people is seen as an example of devotion and loyalty to the Torah.
Read: Ruth-Shavuot Connections
Why stay up all night studying Torah on Shavuot?
The most common reason is that the Israelites overslept on the morning they were supposed to receive the Torah, so staying up all night “fixes” that missed opportunity.
Read: Learning All Night on Shavuot
When are the 10 Commandments read?
The 10 Commandments are read as part of morning services on the first day of Shavuot. Since so many kids come to that service, it is often followed by an ice cream party for children (and a dairy reception for the adults).
Read: Hear the 10 Commandments
Who should attend the 10 Commandments reading?
The Rebbe encouraged every single Jew—men, women, and even babies—to make every effort to come to synagogue and hear the 10 Commandments from the Torah.
Find: A 10 Commandments Reading Near You
Are there any specific customs associated with Shavuot?
Some Shavuot customs include decorating homes and synagogues with flowers and greenery, learning all night, hearing the 10 Commandments, eating dairy, and reading the Book of Ruth.
Read: 7 Reasons From Greenery and Flowers on Shavuot
Is Yizkor said on Shavuot?
Yes, Yizkor is said as part of morning services on the second day of Shavuot (in Israel, where there is only one day, it is said on that day, following the reading of the 10 Commandments).
Read: Yizkor
Emeka Obinnwa, Dexterity Portal @2026, May 20.
