The festival commences tonight. If you are reading this prior to yomtov, don't forget to make an Eruv Tavshilin. This permits us to cook and prepare for Shabbat on Friday — even though usually one may not make preparations from one day yomtov to the next.

There is a custom (for men) to stay up on the first night of Shavuot and study Torah. Some read from a set text, known as Tikun Leil Shavuot. This is to make up for the indiscretion of the Children of Israel at the time of the revelation at Mount Sinai — which took place on Shavuot — when they did not stay awake all night in preparation for receiving the Torah.

After all, people stay up all night to ensure they are one of the first at a sale or to queue for tickets for concerts or major sporting events. Some shuls even have a minyan in the early hours.

Another custom on Shavuot is to eat some milky foods — particularly cheesecake. Of course, this must not be eaten together with meat.

There are several reasons given for this. One reason is that the Torah is compared to milk.

As for the Torah portions, you will find these in the Machzor. On the first day we read the 10 Commandments and the account of the ‘Revelation’ from the Sedra Yitro (Exodus 19). As mentioned this took place on Shavuot.

On the second day (Shabbat) we read about the 3 Foot Festivals from the sedra Re’eh (Deut 15). On both days we read the maftir from a second scroll from Pinchas (Numbers 28) — detailing the festival sacrifices. On the second day we read the Book of Ruth and recite Yizkor.

Incidentally, in Israel where only one day yomtov is observed, on Shabbat they read the sedra Naso. Thus, the diaspora will be a sedra behind for a few weeks.

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