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Explore the Festival of Shavuot and its fascinating symmetry of giving and receiving. The terminology of matan (מתן, “presenting”) Torah as opposed to kabalat (קבלת, “receiving”) Torah illustrates this point beautifully. Shavuot celebrates the giving of the “first fruits,” where during Temple times, fruits were presented to the High Priest.
Additionally, Shavuot is especially enjoyed on kibbutzim and agricultural communities throughout Israel where they celebrate their successes of the year—wheat, fruit, and, notably, dairy! This is why it's common to make and share cheesecakes, blintzes, and other dairy treats with family and friends. What will you be giving and receiving this year?
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- Day Schools and Yeshivas
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- Congregational Learning
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Fun educational activities to help people with disabilities learn and connect with the Jewish Holidays and traditions.
Torah experiences including texts and narrative, to provide a guided tour through a topic.
Text study and discussion questions centered around a poem by Merle Feld about standing at Mount Sinai.