Shavuot

Shavuot

Shoebox Sinai - The JCC of Greater Pittsburgh (JCCPGH) (2021)

The story of Moses receiving the Torah is a monumental moment in the story of the Jewish people. Families crafted their own Mt. Sinai, Moses, the Ten Commandments and other elements of the Shavuot story with items from the Shavuout activity kit that families received in advance.

Virtual Shavuout Bake-Along - Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) (2021)

A chef from Israel, Harry Rubenstein, provided educational background on Shavuot, including why dairy foods are eaten on the holiday. He also baked some dairy sweets.

Advertising: The program was advertised on social media outlets and through paid advertising in Moment magazine.

The Choosing and the Chosen: A Shavuout Reunion and Celebration - Sutton Place Synagogue (SPS), New York City (2024)

SPS will be hosting an erev Shavuot program focused on the concept of choosing Judaism. Shavuot makes the perfect setting for this, given Ruth’s significance to the Jewish story. The format of the event will be a facilitated panel of people in the congregation who have chosen Judaism, followed by a discussion, and then a dairy dinner.

Panel: The panel will feature those who converted with the rabbi nearly 10 years ago, those who recently converted under unique circumstances, those who converted outside of the SPS community but are now active members of the SPS community, and family members of those who converted or whose children’s partner converted, among others. The goal of this panel will be to share experiences and talk about the surprises, challenges, needs, and blessings they’ve discovered from their experiences as Jews. This will also serve as a moment of inspiration and encouragement for audience members who might be considering or in the process of conversion.

Discussion: The audience and panelists will then be split up into discussion groups, to discuss questions that converts are asked upon their conversion. This will allow Jews by choice and Jews by birth to both discuss how they live Jewishly and what the role of their shared Jewish community can play. The central question of this discussion will be - for Jews by birth or Jews by choice, what does it mean to choose Judaism, to embrace Jewish values, community, and lifestyles in a post October 7 world?

Dinner: Finally, everyone will share a dairy meal together to allow for time to celebrate the panelists and build community.