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Dear Miriam,
Any tips for celebrating Shavuot this year?
Signed,
Screaming for Cheesecake
Dear Screaming,
This has been a challenging time for pretty much everyone, it seems. Whether you’re feeling the weightiness of the news on any number of fronts or the crush of end-of-school-year activities or some other personal stress, mustering the energy and joy for a big holiday may seem harder than usual. And if that holiday involves not getting a lot of sleep, well, it’s no wonder you’re looking for some ideas.
So here are my ideas: Have a big celebration. Or, if that doesn’t sound right, have a small celebration. Keep your family traditions alive and do what you always do. Or, use this year to make a new tradition for this holiday. Surprise your family or friends with an amazing d’var Torah or favorite ice cream treats or bouquets of flowers. Or work with your family or friends to come up with a plan together that will be a really fun and memorable group effort. All that is to say, there’s no right or wrong, but Shavuot has the potential to be a great experience, so whatever else you have going on in your life, and despite all the (mostly terrible) noise out in the world, there’s a lot you can do to bring and to find some joy.
Some of the most well-known Shavuot traditions include eating cheesecake (or other dairy delights) and staying up through sunrise so you can use those as a starting point. Many people I know did not grow up with a lot of Shavuot traditions, and many don’t have the expectation to travel or spend the holiday with extended family. That makes Shavuot a great holiday to spend with your community. While it may be too late this year to find a Shavuot retreat, it’s something to keep in mind for next year if you want to consider getting out of town. But it’s almost certainly not too late to find a tikkun leil Shavuot, a learning event that brings people together, often all the way through the night, usually hosted by synagogues or community centers and offering a variety of classes on different topics and levels.
If that doesn’t sound like your speed, you could pick some Torah – defined broadly! – that you want to learn about and let yourself dive in without time constraints. Pick a (preferably dairy) treat to go with it, and experience the sweetness of learning in your home. If you can’t think of something, I’ll recommend the Book of Ruth, which is traditionally read on Shavuot and is a wonderful story that features independent women displaying kindness and loyalty.
If you’re going to be in any Jewish communal spaces over the holiday, I’ll also suggest that you show extra kindness to everyone you encounter. From the security guards to the clergy to your fellow attendees, everyone is likely experiencing a heightened sense of emotion right now. A little bit of compassion can go a long way to creating the kind of world we want to see, even if it’s just in the microcosms of our own communities.
Wishing you a chag sameach, and be well,
Miriam
