Category: Shavuot

The Why of Torah is Torah: Our Need for Torah Lishmah

Torah Lishmah or How can we take Torah out of the capitalist framework we live in that pushes us to use all our time “productively?”

Rabbi Avigayil Halpern May 29, 2025 Holidays Learning

Pathways of Torah: Tiny Tikkun 5785

This Tiny Tikkun is a collection of pathways. Each source sheet offers a journey, learn them in order or wherever you feel drawn.

Exploring Judaism May 28, 2025 Holidays Shavuot

Devastation and Joy: AI and the Soul of Torah

We learn Torah because it gives us purpose and mitzvot, AI tools can help that, but it cannot replace it or our humanity.

Rabbi Marcus Rubenstein May 21, 2025 Holidays Learning

Torah as Inspiration for Life: Why Learn Torah

Torah is a wellspring of meaning that inspires every part of life, from decision-making, to how to treat others, and basis of our values.

Tsvia Weisberger May 13, 2025 Holidays Learning

The Origins of Tikkun Leil Shavuot

The Origins of Tikkun Leil Shavuot draws from two narrative threads, both inviting us into special relationship with Torah and God.

Rabbi Jeremy Markiz May 7, 2025 Holidays Shavuot

What It Means Spiritually If People Edited the Torah

Did God give the fully-written Torah to Moses at Sinai? Or as the Torah compiled and edited by people? What does that mean spiritually?

Rabbi Jeremy Markiz April 30, 2025 Every Day Hebrew Bible

Celebrating Shavu’ot with Seven Species Cookies

What better way to celebrate Shavu’ot than by making a delicious treat from these seven species?

Cantor Sarah Myerson June 7, 2024 Food Holidays

Shavuot 5784: Tiny Tikkun

Shavuot is often considered a holiday of converts. Our Tiny Tikkun collects some texts on conversion to study with a friend or on your own.

Exploring Judaism May 30, 2024 Conversion Holidays

Common Terms in Torah Study

The Exploring Judaism team has prepared this printable sheet of common terms you might encounter in your Torah study that might help you out.

Exploring Judaism May 24, 2024 Holidays Learning

Mysteriousness of the Makom

The mysteriousness of the makom comes into view when looking at all of the divine places, especially mountains, in our literature.

Rabbi Alex Hamilton May 17, 2024 Holidays Shavuot

Ten Torah Resources You Should Know

Here are our top ten Torah resources you should know, including Conservative/Masorti organizations and resources for kids and families!

Reena Bromberg Gaber May 15, 2024 Holidays Learning

Lactaid® Carrier Giveaway (Shavuot 5784)

Come prepared with an Exploring Judaism Shavuot Lactaid* Carrier! Exploring Judaism knows how to make Torah more digestible.

Exploring Judaism April 26, 2024 Shavuot

Remembering Our Loved Ones Before Us

When our loved ones die, who remembers those they remembered? Here's a way to remember all of those that came before us.

Rabbi Miriam T. Spitzer September 21, 2023 Death and Dying Family

An En-Dairying Holiday: The Custom of Enjoying Milk Meals on Shavuot

Why do Jews eat dairy on Shavuot? From cheesecake to spiritual metaphors, here are 10 reasons behind the holiday’s dairy connection.

Rabbi Dr. J.B. Sacks May 10, 2023 Holidays Observing Shavuot

What are the Shavuot Torah Readings About?

Rabbi Mitch Berkowitz explains the meaning of the Torah passages that we read on Shavuot and the connection to revelation and the harvest.

Rabbi Mitchell H. Berkowitz June 3, 2022 Observing Shavuot Shavuot

10 Reasons Shavuot Might Be Your New Favorite Holiday

Rabbi Tova Leibovic-Douglas offers us 10 great reasons why Shavuot might be your new favorite Jewish holiday.

Rabbi Tova Leibovic-Douglas June 3, 2022 Shavuot Shavuot Reflections and Inspiration

Shavuot: Z’man Matan Torateinu

Ariel Barry discusses Shavuot and receiving the Torah from Sinai. What does it mean to be "MiSinai", from Sinai and how can we relate today?

Ariel Ya’akov Dunat (they/them) May 31, 2022 Shavuot Shavuot Reflections and Inspiration

How to See and Be Seen: Choosing Judaism

Shavuot is all about choosing Judaism. We choose to see the beauty of the tradition and be seen holding it with full hearts and hands.

Rabbi Joshua Hoffman May 20, 2022 Conversion Shavuot

Learning about Mental Illness from Ruth

Risa Sugarman teaches that comparing Ruth's strengths to owning our own positive attributes as primary instead of our mental illness.

Risa Finkelstein Sugarman May 20, 2022 Illness Shavuot

Questions of Revelation: A Poem

Rabbi Suzanne Brody shares her poem that embraces a variety of midrashim about what happened at Sinai when we received the Torah.

Rabbi Suzanne Brody May 20, 2022 Personal Prayer Prayer

Revelation: A Poem

Yakira Keshet offers a poem to commemorate Shavuot, her journey to Judaism, and the presence of our souls at Mount Sinai.

Yakira Keshet May 12, 2022 Conversion LGBTQ+

Home and Synagogue Shavuot Observances

Candle-lighting, Torah readings, the Book of Ruth, and Yizkor are all a part of celebrating Shavuot at home and at synagogue.

The Observant Life (Book), Rabbi Alan Lucas April 25, 2022 Observing Shavuot Shavuot

What is Shavuot about?

Like Sukkot and Passover, Shavuot is a multi-dimensional holiday, embracing profound historical, spiritual, and agricultural aspects.

The Observant Life (Book), Rabbi Alan Lucas April 25, 2022 Shavuot Shavuot Explainers