Slide 2:
The Torah, the first five books of the Christian Bible was given by God to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai more than 3300 year ago.
Every year on the holiday of Shavuot Jewish people renew their acceptance of God's gift and by tradition they believe that God "re-gives" them Torah. The word Shavuot means "weeks. It marks the completion of the seven week, 49 days, counting between Passover and Shavuot.
Jesus rose from the dead on Easter Sunday morning, the day following the Passover Sabbath, and 40 days later he ascended into heaven.
Nine days later, on the weekend following the Ascension, Christians celebrate the feast of Pentecost and the arrival of the Holy Spirit.
Slide 3:
The holiday of Shavuot is sometimes referred to as the “Feast of Weeks,” “Festival of Reaping” and “Day of the First Fruits”
Jewish sages, wise and learned men, have compared this celebration to the wedding between God and the Jewish people. An additional meaning of the word, Shavuot, is oath.
Jews view this celebration as a time when God swore His eternal devotion to the people and at the same time the people swore their everlasting loyalty to Him.
One of the interesting activities of the day is the complete reading of the Book of Ruth.
Slide 4:
It is believed that King David died on Shavuot and since he was a descendant of Ruth the Moabite the Book of Ruth is read as a memorial.
Shavuot is a two day celebration.
Women and girls light holiday candles on both days. All men, women and children should go to the Synagogue on the first day to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments.
Special meals are eaten and no work may be performed.
This is also a time of reciting the Yizkor, which are special prayers for the dead recited by those that have lost either one or both of their parents.