During the course of the holiday we don’t go to work, drive, write, or switch on or off electric devices. We are permitted to cook, to kindle a stove with a flame that existed before the holiday (or which was lit from such a flame), and to carry outdoors.
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Thursday |
Shavuot eve (Erev Shavuot) It is customary to decorate synagogues and homes with flowers and boughs. All decorations must be done today, before the holiday starts. Since Shabbat occurs immediately following the first day of the festival, an "eruv tavshilin" is prepared prior to the festival, so that it should be permitted to prepare food for Shabbat on Friday. The holiday of Shavuot begins tonight. Women and girls light candles tonight to usher in the holiday. Click here for candle-lighting times in your city, and click here for the blessings one recites while lighting. After the holiday evening prayers, a festive holiday meal, complete with the recitation of the holiday kiddush, is enjoyed. On this night it is customary to remain awake and study Torah until dawn. |
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Friday, |
First day of Shavuot Reading of the Ten Commandments. All men, women and children should go to the synagogue to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments. Click here to find a synagogue near you. The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, encouraged the bringing of even the youngest of children to the reading of the Ten Commandments in the synagogue on Shavuot. This is in commemoration of the Jewish people declaring: “Our children are our guarantors [that we will keep the Torah].” This, the Midrash states, was the only guarantee acceptable to G‑d. Many communities chant the Akdamut poem before the reading of the Torah. The priests bless the congregation with the Priestly Blessing during the Musaf prayer. Holiday Kiddush is recited, and a holiday meal follows. It is customary to eat dairy foods today. Click here for delicious dairy recipes. The food for the Friday night meal can be warmed up before candle lighting, using a flame that has been lit from the onset of the holiday. Candle-lighting, from a pre-existing flame, before nightfall. Click here for candle-lighting times in your city, and and click here for the Shabbat/holiday blessings. In some communities, whoever will say yizkor tomorrow lights a yahrtzeit candle tonight before lighting Shabbat candles, also from a pre-existing flame. After the holiday evening prayers, which include both Shabbat and holiday texts, a festive holiday meal, complete with the recitation of the Shabbat and holiday kiddush, is again enjoyed. |
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Shabbat |
Second day of Shavuot Some communities have the custom to read the Book of Ruth on the second day of Shavuot. The Yizkor memorial service is recited (and charity is pledged) for the souls of departed loved ones. The priests bless the congregation with the Priestly Blessing during the Musaf prayer. Holiday Kiddush (preceded by the Shabbat verses said quietly) is recited, and a festive meal follows. The holiday ends tonight at nightfall. Click here for end of holiday times in your location. Havdalah is said using wine, a flame, and spices. |
As a person who cannot eat dairy, Shavuot is a nightmare with people trying to ply me with ice cream and dairy dishes - even when I thank them and state I cannot. "Well, surely you can have a little." No, I cannot. Lactaid (as my Rebbetzin recommended, is not an option).
Why is dairy customary? I've never seen a good response.
Wouldn't it be lovely if all of the dairy celebrations on Shavuot had at least one item a non-dairy person could eat. We no longer hide in the closet - dairy issues are known. For any other chag or celebration, there is usually at least one food item that I can have, and one is great.
(Bringing my own food is not an option at our shul.) There was not one item that I could eat. I want the social aspect of kiddush, but not if I'm hungry - even after eating a larger breakfast at home. It would be lovely if Chabad could counsel their Chabad Houses to have at least one dish non-dairy people could eat on Shavuot. (There is usually a dish for GF folks.)
Zelda, the thing about 'dairy' on Shavuos has to do with remembering the Israelites being in the desert and not having been able to put their kitchen equipment thru the purification process needed for the separation between meat & milk. The thought is that all kitchen prep items were used for whichever until that point, i.e. for either milk or meat prep, with no thought of making a separation. Thus it seemed good to have following generations remember that technicality by removing meat from the equation for Shavuos in the thought that until all meal prep items had been properly purified, kol Isroel restricted themselves to dairy/parve foods.
people who cannot eat dairy can eat yogurts...
by the way, just one drop of milk, measured by a drop-counter, cannot do severe damages...
ask your doctor about the desensibilization protocols...
raw goat milk is a safer, more digestible choice for everyone that is cow milk. The average person can turn goat milk into cheese, into kefir, into yogurt. The goats are less likely to have been contaminated with shots also. The goat milk can have healing properties .. using it exclusively for drinking and cooking completely cleared the pockets in my gums and I no longer needed dental surgery to improve the 'pockets'. The dentist was so furious with my natural healing that he refused to keep me as a patient! Love it when that happens!! :)