By Marelinke van der Riet

This year, Shavuot – also known as the Feast of Weeks – will be observed from 2-3 June. It commemorates one of the most pivotal events in Jewish history: the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. Yet Shavuot is more than a celebration of the majestic law; it is the remembrance of a sacred covenant – a spiritual “marriage” between God and the people of Israel made as though under a chuppah at Sinai.

Just as a bride and groom exchange vows, at Sinai the Israelites accepted the Torah and entered into a binding relationship with their Creator. In this context, the Torah is likened to a ketubah – a marriage contract – symbolising the enduring covenant between God and His people. Each year, this spiritual betrothal is celebrated as a reminder of that commitment to worship and serve the Creator God alone.

One of Shavuot’s central customs is Tikkun Leil Shavuot, the tradition of staying awake all night to study Torah. This is done in preparation for symbolically receiving the Torah anew, demonstrating eagerness and love for God’s Word. For the Jewish people, it serves as a powerful expression of their ongoing commitment to the covenant.

Homes and synagogues are often adorned with greenery and flowers, reflecting the Jewish tradition that Mount Sinai symbolically burst into bloom when the Torah was given. These decorations represent spiritual renewal, beauty, and the flourishing of life that God brought into the world through the Torah, renewing not only the land but also the hearts of His people. In the broader sense, it was a transformative event, not only for the people of Israel but for the whole world.

Shavuot falls fifty days after Passover, marking the conclusion of the Counting of the Omer, a period that links the physical liberation of the Israelites from Egypt with their spiritual transformation at Sinai. In ancient times the Omer offering, a sheaf of barley, was brought to the Temple, signalling the start of the grain harvest. The fifty days represent the time it takes for barley and wheat to mature, with wheat harvested and offered around Shavuot.

Similarly, this period provided the Israelites with time to spiritually prepare and mature, enabling them to fully receive the Torah and enter into a covenant with God. The Omer offering symbolises the connection between physical sustenance and spiritual renewal, emphasising Shavuot’s pivotal role in completing the Israelites’ journey from physical deliverance at Passover to a deeper, more intimate relationship with God at Shavuot.

The story of Ruth, traditionally read on this holiday, unfolds during the harvest season and reflects the heart of Shavuot. Taking place amid the gathering of grain, this deepens the meaning of the Ruth narrative. Ruth, a Moabite woman, made the courageous choice to leave behind her homeland and follow the God of Israel: “Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” (Ruth 1:16) This act of personal conversion and loyalty mirrors the Israelites’ collective acceptance of the Torah at Sinai. Just as they said “yes” to God’s covenant, Ruth willingly entered into a new identity and relationship with the God of Israel. Remarkably, she became the great-grandmother of King David, who, according to tradition, was both born and died on Shavuot.

Another cherished Shavuot custom is the eating of dairy foods—cheesecake, blintzes, kugel and more. This tradition has several layers of meaning. The Torah is compared to milk, based on Song of Songs 4:11: “Milk and honey are under your tongue.” Just as milk nourishes the body, the Torah nourishes the soul. Dairy’s purity and sweetness symbolise the spiritual richness of God’s Word. There are also practical reasons behind this custom. When the Israelites received the Torah, they had not yet adopted the laws of kashrut (kosher dietary laws), so they chose to eat simple dairy meals. And just as the Promised Land is described as “a land flowing with milk and honey” (Exodus 3:8), dairy foods serve as a reminder of the abundance and blessings tied to this sacred land.”

For Christians, this holiday is known as Pentecost—from the Greek word for “fiftieth”—corresponding to the fifty days after Passover. Pentecost commemorates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as described in Acts 2:1–4, when God’s presence came upon the followers of Jesus in a new and powerful way. This, too, is a covenant moment. As Paul writes: “He has set His seal of ownership on us, and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” (2 Corinthians 1:22 NIV) Just as God betrothed the Israelites to Himself at Sinai, Pentecost is seen as a new betrothal, with the Holy Spirit given as a kind of engagement ring, or “seal” – a promise of what is to come.

The story of Ruth reminds us that covenant is always a choice. Just as she chose to stand with Israel, we too are called to decide: Will we stand with God and His people, or will we turn away? Shavuot invites us into a yearly “vow renewal,” calling us to reaffirm our commitment to God and say “I do” once again to the divine relationship He offers us.

Like Ruth, we each face spiritual crossroads. May we have the courage to choose faithfulness over comfort, commitment over convenience, and loyalty over complacency – choosing to walk in covenant with God. And as we do, may we be continually renewed by the beauty, richness and love of God’s eternal promise. For in every generation, the invitation remains to say “yes” again. Yes to the love that liberates, the Word that leads, the Spirit who marks us as His own, and the promise written not in ink, but on our hearts – unfailing and ever true.

He is our Bridegroom, and we are His beloved – “For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is His name.” (Isaiah 54:5)

Main photo: Mount Sinai. (Artem Labunsky/Unsplash)