Shavuot 2027: the giving of the Torah
Shavuot, the Festival of Weeks, comes seven weeks after Passover, at the end of the counting of the Omer. It celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai and the wheat harvest. Less familiar than Passover or Hanukkah, it is nonetheless one of the three great pilgrimage festivals, with traditions all its own: a night of study until dawn, the reading of the Book of Ruth, synagogues decked with flowers, and dairy food. Here are the dates of Shavuot, what it means, its customs and its recipes.
When is Shavuot in 2027?
2027
From the evening of Thursday 10 June until nightfall on Saturday, 12 June 2027
In Israel: until Friday, 11 June 2027
in 215 days
2028
From the evening of Tuesday 30 May until nightfall on Thursday, 1 June 2028
In Israel: until Wednesday, 31 May 2028
Every holiday begins at sunset the evening before and ends at nightfall; dates shown are those observed outside Israel, with Israel’s dates noted where they differ.
What Shavuot means
Shavuot means “weeks”: the festival falls on the fiftieth day after the counting of the Omer begins, in the month of Sivan. Tradition celebrates it as the day the Torah was given to the people gathered at the foot of Mount Sinai after the Exodus: the freedom of Passover finds its purpose in law and learning. It is also an agricultural festival, marking the wheat harvest and the first fruits, the bikkurim, once brought to the Temple in Jerusalem. On kibbutzim, this side of the festival is still celebrated today with harvest festivities. Shavuot lasts one day in Israel and two days in the diaspora.
Shavuot traditions
The best-known custom is Tikkun Leil Shavuot: many people stay up all night studying, alone or in groups, in synagogues or study halls, until the dawn service. Texts from many sources are read, and plenty of communities offer talks and classes open to all. In the morning, the Ten Commandments are read in synagogue, with the congregation standing. The Book of Ruth is also read: the story of a Moabite woman who chooses to join the Jewish people, and from whom King David descends. Synagogues and homes are often decorated with flowers and greenery, recalling the tradition that Mount Sinai burst into bloom.
Shavuot food
Shavuot is the festival of dairy, and several explanations are given for the custom, including the comparison of the Torah to milk and honey. Ashkenazi families make blintzes, crêpes filled with sweet cheese, and cheesecake, now a must. Sephardic homes serve cheese bourekas, flaky pastries, vegetable gratins, rice pudding or milk-based sweets depending on the region. Many families alternate between a dairy meal and a meat meal over the festival.
Shavuot as a couple
Shavuot feeds the mind as much as the table. Going to a study night together, listening to a talk, debating a text until morning: it is an unusual way to get to know each other and to talk about what really matters to you both. The Book of Ruth, a story of loyalty and choice, gives a couple plenty to think about too. And a meal of blintzes or bourekas with your partner’s family remains simple and convivial.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Shavuot last?
Shavuot lasts one day in Israel and two days in the diaspora. It begins at sunset the evening before and ends at nightfall.
Why do people eat dairy on Shavuot?
Several explanations exist: the Torah is compared to milk and honey, or, having just received the laws of kashrut, the people could not prepare meat that day. Today it has mostly become a delicious tradition.
What is Tikkun Leil Shavuot?
It is the all-night study session on the night of Shavuot. People stay awake learning until morning, as a way of preparing to receive the Torah. Many communities run classes and talks open to everyone.
Why is the Book of Ruth read on Shavuot?
Its story takes place at harvest time, like Shavuot. Ruth, in choosing to join the Jewish people, accepts the Torah, just as the people did at Sinai. Tradition also links Shavuot to King David, her descendant.
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