A Festival Table: Readying for Shavout
I have not declined from thy judgments, because thou hast set me a law. How sweet are thy words to my palate! more than honey to my mouth --Psalm 119:102-103, Douay-Rheims Bible
Well, it turns out that covered wagon i saw the other day was meant for use in a wedding... which happened right here in the town. Nice timing too, becuase a favorite holiday with deep wedding-ness begins at sunset tonight...Shavout : )
I never can quite understand it when folks toss the Old Testament celebrations, such richness there! But luckily Orthodox Judaism has preserved these traditions for all of us when it comes down to it really, such a precious legacy kept alive. And it is to just such wonderful treasure that i turn to now, from Chabad:
Shavuot marks the anniversary of the day when we received the Torah at Mount Sinai. It is the second of the three major festivals (Passover being the first, and Sukkot the third), occuring exactly fifty days after the second day of Passover....
This holiday is likened to our wedding day -- beneath the wedding canopy of Mount Sinai, G-d betrothed us to Him. G-d swore eternal devotion to us, and we in turn pledged everlasting loyalty to Him.
Every year on the holiday of Shavuot, we reenact this historic moment. G-d re-gives the Torah, and we lovingly reaccept, and reaffirm our fidelity to Him alone.
Erev Shavuot (Sunday June 8)
It is customary to decorate synagogues and homes with flowers and boughs. The holiday of Shavuot begins at sundown tonight. Women and girls light candles tonight to usher in the holiday (with special holiday prayers). 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.
First Day of Shavuot (Monday June 9)
Torah Reading: Exodus 19:1-20:26; Numbers 28:26-31Haftarah: Ezekiel 1:1-28; 3:12; Reading of the Ten Commandments.
All men, women and children should go to the synagogue to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments...The Priests bless the congregation with the Priestly Blessing during the Musaf prayer. Many communities chant the Akdamot poem before the reading of the Torah. Kiddush is recited, and a holiday meal follows. It is customary to eat dairy foods today. (From here, "The Torah is likened to nourishing milk"; from here: "(Some) say it is because of King Solomon's words describing the Torah as "honey and milk are under your tongue" in the Song of Songs.). Candle-lighting (again, with special holiday prayers) after dark. After the holiday evening prayers, a festive holiday meal, complete with the recitation of the holiday kiddush, is again enjoyed.
Second Day of Shavuot (Tuesday June 10)
Torah Reading: Deuteronomy 15:19-16:17; Numbers 28:26-31Haftarah: Habakkuk 2:20-3:19
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. Kiddush is recited, and a holiday meal follows. Some communities have the custom to read the Book of Ruth on the second day of Shavuot. The holiday ends tonight at nightfall.
One thing i find really interesting is that, though there are many restrictions the observant keep on this holiday, cooking is not one of those restrictions, cooking is allowed. And i love so much the image of the stained glass window above, connecting the Law to our food, to our nurturance. What struck me also today was how the word palate is used in the version of the Psalm qouted above. I hadnt known that before today, this wonderful Douay-Rheims Bible translation is fairly new to me. Its funny becuase the past couple days, as this wedding has been going on in town, i've also been journal writing about "palette cooking", gathering thoughts and recipes there. Palette and palate have some real connections to one another and been pondering that...just knew that palette image has been drawing so much for a reason. Scriptures never ceases to amaze me : )
Well, a very blessed, nourishing, lovely Shavout : )
(Top image is of a Shavout table setting from Gluten-Free Bay, the stained glass window depicting Shavout is from here, and ten commandments image from here)