Shavuot, << shah VOO oht or shah voo OHT, >> is a Jewish festival that celebrates the day the Ten Commandments–the foundation of Jewish written and oral law–were revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai. It falls in May or June, on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan. Orthodox and Conservative Jews outside Israel observe Shavuot for two days. The holiday is also called Feast of Weeks because it comes seven weeks, or “a week of weeks,” after the first day of Passover (see Passover ).
The ancient Hebrews celebrated Shavuot as a harvest festival. They made pilgrimages to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the Temple. During the festival today, Jews read the Book of Ruth from the Bible. The book is set during the spring harvest.
