In Solidarity With Israel, Northwest CT Jews to Gather on Shavuot

(Northwest CT) - As rockets continue to rain down on civilians throughout Israel, Northwest CT’s Jewish community will unite on Monday, May 17 at: 5:30 pm in solidarity with the people of Israel. They will join in prayers for peace and unite in doing mitzvot — good deeds — in the merit of its protection. A highlight will be the annual reading of the Ten Commandments, a reliving of the earth-changing event at Sinai when the Jewish people joined as one to accept the Torah. The event will be held outdoors and follow local health and safety guidelines to ensure everyone can join safely. RSVP required: chabadNW.org/RSVP

Shavuot, a central Jewish holiday, celebrates the Giving of the Torah and Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai 3,333 years ago. Just as Jews stood united at Sinai, it is traditional for men, women and children, from infants to the elderly, to gather together and hear the Ten Commandments read from a Torah scroll. Family and friends also join together for the Shavuot festive meal, which is customarily dairy, and Chabad of Northwest CT will be serving ice cream, cheesecakes.

The Jewish unity that is the theme of Shavuot takes on even more resonance this year, as the Jewish community prays for peace in Israel and keeps their brothers and sisters under fire in mind and close to heart.

“Shavuot celebrates the time when every Jewish person stood united as one nation at Mount Sinai and received the Torah from G‑d,” said Rabbi Joseph I. Eisenbach, co-director of Chabad. “Our strength is our people’s unity, and there is nothing more fitting for us to do at this moment in time than gather as one people, hear the Ten Commandments, and ‘Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.’”

Thousands of synagogues around the world will welcome families to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments on the urging of the Rebbe — Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, the most influential rabbi in modern history — who explained that there is special significance to bringing children, even infants, to hear the Ten Commandments on Shavuot morning. “By listening to the Ten Commandments on Shavuot morning,” the Rebbe explained, “the words of Torah will be engraved in the hearts and minds of the children. And through them, the Torah will be etched within their parents and grandparents with even greater intensity.”

Recognizing that for some it may not yet be safe to rejoin in-person events, Chabad of Northwest CT will also provide tools for at-home celebration. A Shavuot-at-home guide and readings is available free at ChabadNW.org/ShavuotAtHome.

Traditionally, Jews pull an “all-nighter” the first night of Shavuot, recalling the night before receiving the Torah at Sinai when the Jews went to sleep and woke up late in the morning. As a rectification for this, Jews customarily stay awake studying Torah all night. A downloadable curriculum can be accessed at ChabadNW.org/4754937. Another popular Shavuot custom is enjoying a dairy meal, which recalls that as the Torah was given, and the laws of kosher dining were first received, the Jewish People were not yet capable of properly preparing meat and poultry and so ate dairy. Shavuot kosher dairy recipes are available from ChabadNW.org/Food, including kosher lasagna, cheesecake, and traditional cheese blintzes.

Additional at-home resources are available at ChabadNW.org/4751689

What is the holiday of Shavuot?

Shavuot celebrates the date on which the Jewish people received the Torah at Mount Sinai 3,333 years ago. Shavuot literally means “weeks” and marks the completion of the seven-week counting period between Passover and Shavuot. Shavuot customs include all-night Torah study, listening to the recitation of the Ten Commandments, the reading of the Book of Ruth, eating dairy foods and adorning the synagogue and home with greenery and flowers. For everything you need to know about Shavuot visit ChabadNW.org/Shavuot.

About Chabad Lubavitch of Northwest Connecticut

Chabad Lubavitch of Northwest Connecticut offers Jewish education, outreach and social service programming for families and individuals of all ages, backgrounds and affiliations. For more information, please visit chabadnw.org