“You shall love your neighbor as yourself." – Leviticus 19:18(Program)

Activity that proposes an analysis of the concept of justice and charity by taking as a starting point Megillat Ruth, which is read during the feast of Shavuot. The fundamental teaching of this book is to put into practice the cardinal rule: "…you shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Boaz is from Mars, Ruth is from Venus?!(Program)

This activity focuses on the relationship between Boaz and Ruth, two central characters ofMegillat Ruth, which is read during Shavuot.

Chag HaShevuot, Love Stories(Article)

Two love stories dominate the scene during the Shavuot holiday. God and the people of Israel make a pact of eternal love, wherein the “wedding ring” is a commitment to observe and transmit the Torah. In celebration of this alliance, each year the people make a gift of their bikurim to God on the day of its commemoration. On the other hand, the story of Ruth teaches us that a commitment to good actions is the ideal environment in which to enter into a solid and enduring relationship. For this reason, perhaps, this festivity is not only Chag Hashavuot, the Feast of Weeks, but also Chag HaShevuot, the Feast of Promises, of commitments.

By Guido Cohen

Choices(Article)

On Shavuot, Jews celebrate the handing over of the Torah and the fact that G-d chose us as His people. But what does this choice mean? What are its terms and conditions? In this article the author explores the genealogy of the concept of choice in the Jewish tradition to see how it acquired different shades of meaning as it was molded by different authors, looking specifically at the stances of a story of the Talmud, of Maimonides and of Rabbi Yehuda haLevi.

By Rabbi Joshua Kullock

'Do not distance yourself from the community' (Avot, 2 Mishnah 5)(Program)

Activity that forms part of the investigative project related to the festival of Shavuot: “The world stands upon three pillars: on Torah, on worship, and on acts of charity” (Pirkei Avot). The theme of the activity is the Torah and its relationship to the Jewish people, based on analysis of Mishnayot taken from Pirkei Avot and from other Talmudic and Biblical sources.

Education in values. A Shavuot project. (Program)

Planning a project on education and values means talking about how to accentuate the positive attitudes of our students. Education today is in general extremely concerned with how to make the educational environment not just a space for improving technical skills, but an environment for learning to be better human beings. Why begin a program of education in values with the celebration of Shavuot? To begin a program of Education in Values with Shavuot is to begin by dealing with the primary source of Western culture, the source that laid the foundations for the system of values that today serves as the standard for living in society. The majority of legal codes in the Western world are based directly or indirectly on the Bible and in particular on the Decalogue. In it are values such as freedom, equality before the law, the right to study, the reason for the day of rest, and, of course, the value of monotheism vis-à-vis idolatry. In this way the individual no longer feels at the mercy of the forces of nature, but comes to feel part of a world in which s/he is responsible for what takes place.

For I give you good doctrine, do not forsake my Torah. (Proverbs, Ch. 4, 2)(Program)

In-depth activity relating to the thematic content of the festival of Shavuot, with expression tasks.

From Z’man Heiruteinu to Z’man Matan Torateinu: Learning to Live as Free People Responsibly(Program)

The purpose of these lessons is to look at a larger theme of the entire season that spans from Pesach through Shavuot, namely that of learning and committing ourselves to live as free people responsibly. Freedom is first and foremost a responsibility as well as a privilege. Too often we, especially during high school years, forget that. For that reason, this learning unit is suggested and specifically designed for older student groupings as a supplement to normative seasonal units, who can give serious consideration to these deep issues and their ramifications for living a productive life.

If I am only for myself, what am I? (Pirke Avot, Ch.1, Mishnah 14)(Program)

Activity that forms part of the investigative project related to the festival of Shavuot: “The world stands upon three pillars: on Torah, on worship, and on acts of charity” (Pirke Avot). The theme of the activity is the Torah and its relationship to the Jewish people, based on analysis of mishnayot taken from Pirke Avot and from other Talmudic and biblical sources.

Images of the Handing Over of the Torah: a Visual Interpretation of the Second Commandment(Article)

For centuries, Jews gave great importance to the event of the handing over of the Torah, celebrated on Shavuot, by means of figurative and narrative illustrations in mahzorim (1), tanachim (2) and haggadot and interpretation and reinterpretation of the Second Commandment to define artistic creation and avoid falling into the domain of idolatry. Within the framework of these interpretations we see the creativity of the Jewish artists who create with intelligence and wisdom to honour the Second Commandment. This article invites us to explore how some of these interpretations visually reflect two sources: the Mahzor Bnei Roma and the Birds’ Head Haggadah.

By Tamara Kohn