Probably the least-known major Jewish Holiday is the holiday of Shavuos, literally the Feast of Weeks, often called Pentacost, from the Greek for “Fifty”, being the fiftieth day after Passover (starting the count from the second day of Passover).  This holiday, which begins tonight at sundown, is mentioned in the Bible in Exodus 23:16, Leviticus 23:15-21, Deuteronomy 16:9-12, and other places, and is one of the three Pilgrimage Holidays.  It is the culmination of the Passover season, and the Rabbis of the Talmud teach that the holiday is intricately tied with several major historical events, most importantly the giving of the Ten Commandments, and also centuries later both the birthday and day of passing of King David.  Unlike the other two pilgrimage holidays, Shavuos does not have any Biblically based special home observances, like Passover’s matzos and Tabernacles’ booths and taking of four plant species.  However, many Jewish communities have developed special traditions around Shavuos, many of them coming from Kabballah.  These include staying up all night and studying the Bible, and eating dairy foods, such as cheese blintzes.  The liturgy for the holiday includes reading the Ten Commandments and reading the Book of Ruth, which contains King David’s geneology.

Shavuos this year begins tonight (June 8, 2008) at sundown and continues to nightfall on June 10.

Here is an interesting video of the celebrations of the end of the holiday of Shavuos in 2006 in Kiryas Joel, NY with His Holiness, Grand Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum, the Satmar Rebbe.

Here is an interesting video from the Hasidic community of Kiryas Joel, NY, accompanying His Holiness, Grand Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum, the Satmar Rebbe, home after the Shavuos holiday in 2006

Here is a link to a recipe for cheese blintzes, a traditional Shavuos food.