Jewish holidays

The Torah is described as the Tree of Life, and there is a legend that Mount Sinai once was a “green mountain” covered with trees and shrubs.

Beyond its being an inspiring story, The Book of Ruth can be enjoyed as a moving example of how tradition can grow.

By adding Purim to the duo of Passover and Shavuot, this trio reminds us that hiddenness is not static. It is dynamic.

It was the collision of Israel’s past with its present and future. The offerings may have been meager. The dairy dishes improvised. But the spirit was resolute.

For many Holocaust survivors, May 18, 1945 was the first Shavuot they were able to celebrate after years of war.

Israel’s city that never sleeps was founded over Passover, 1909, during the counting of the Omer leading up to Shavuot.

Most Atlanta synagogues held a confirmation on the first day of the Shavuot holiday - unusual by then for many American Jewish communities.

This identification of Israel with the Almighty is so profound that Shavuot was transformed into the concept of a spiritual marriage between God and the Jewish people.

Many wine folk will be organizing wine & cheese parties for Shavuot, and for this a variety of white and rosé wines are recommended.

By celebrating Shavuot, we celebrate our connection to the land and our ability to make the desert bloom. It is our Garden of Eden.

Here is how the Jewish community across New York City will be celebrating the holiday, from low-key flower arranging classes and study sessions to all-night ragers.