Shavuot commemorates the anniversary of receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai and the grain harvest in the summer. This year, the holiday is from Tuesday evening, June 11, through Thursday night, June 13. 

Shavuot is customarily celebrated with Torah study sessions that can go well into the night and by eating dairy foods – for which there are various reasons why, one being a way to honor receiving the mitzvah of kashrut by highlighting the tenet of separating dairy and meat. So grab a spoon and enjoy some cheesecake – it's tradition!

"The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia is committed to providing opportunities for people of all ages throughout the region to connect with Jewish life," said Director of Community Development Max Moline. "It is integral to our Jewish communities to show our persistent pride, strength, and connection to history through gathering for holidays like Shavuot, which marks the giving of the Torah and the establishment of the laws and traditions which laid the groundwork for the culture we still celebrate, thousands of years later."

The Jewish Federation is hosting several exciting programs to get into the Shavuot spirit that are open to all community members.

Fighting Antisemitism and Supporting Israel Through Sports and Activism
Tuesday, June 11 | 6:00 p.m.
Adath Israel

Join the Jewish Federation’s Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and community partners for an evening featuring Jared Armstrong, a 27-year-old Black Jewish American-Israeli professional basketball player. Armstrong will be sharing his experiences as an outspoken advocate for the return of the hostages and telling Israel's story to international media outlets. The program will be followed by a pre-Shavuot reception with blintzes and cheesecake. For more information and to register, click here.

Shavuot: A Community Night of Jewish Learning
Tuesday, June 11 | 7:00 p.m. - 7:00 a.m.
Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History

Celebrate the holiday of Shavuot with Center City Kehillah and your fellow community members at the 8th Annual Night of Jewish Learning! Enjoy an evening filled with discourse, community and delicious dairy foods. To register, click here. 

Ruth and Revelation: A Shavuot Study Program
Wednesday, June 12 | 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Keneseth Israel

Join a Shavuot morning Torah study program, co-starring blintzes! This program partners with the Jewish Federation’s Old York Road Kehillah, Keneseth Israel, Congregation Adath Jeshurun and Congregation Kol Ami. For more information, contact Community Engagement Specialist Jonathan Schmalzbach at oldyorkroad@jewishphilly.org.

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