When all has been said about Shavuot

Compared to most other holidays on the Jewish calendar, Shavuot is perhaps one of the dullest ritually speaking.

Consuming dairy products, hardly stacks up against the symbols and rituals associated with the High Holidays, such as blowing the shofar and listening to the familiar strains of Kol Nidre, or Passover, when we recall the Exodus from Eqypt and spend eight days eating matzah.

Last year The CJN's Rabbi Michael Stavsky discussed the Tikun Leil Shavuot – the custom of studying Torah all night and the recitation of the tikun composition – which for many is the most difficult Shavuot custom to observe.

After all the readings have been exhausted and the mind needs a rest check out Jewish Humor Central where among their posts you'll find this scene from Mel Brooks' classic film History of the World - Part 1. In it Brooks, playing Moses, gives us his explanation of how we ended up with "only" 10 commandments. Enjoy!

An exclusive coming next week...

In an upcoming article exclusive to cjnews.com by Rabbi Michael Stavsky, the impending holiday of Shavuot will be discussed. Rabbi Stavsky's focus will explain what significant customs are associated with these holy days.

Most Jewish people have attended a Pesach seder, lit Chanukah candles and heard the shofar on Rosh Hashana. So, what about Shavuot? What special customs are observed on Shavuot? The Tikkun Leil Shavuot (literally translated to the rectification of the night of Shavuot), is the custom of studying Torah all night and the recitation of the tikkun composition, which for many is the most difficult Shavuot custom to observe.

For more on this check back at http://www.cjnews.com on Tuesday June 7 for all your answers.

What day is it?

It may be Friday in the real world, but at The CJN, today is Monday. Also, this week, Tuesday was Friday, and Monday was Thursday.

Our schedule changed this week because we were closed for Shavuot the past two days, and also because we’re heading into Victoria Day weekend.

People sometimes ask if we’re publishing a paper the week of a Jewish holiday, not realizing that the work of putting together an issue is done the preceding week.

This week’s paper went to the printer at noon on Monday as usual, but next week’s paper had to be completed by noon today – which meant that our usual Thursday deadline, which applies to most stories, was moved up to Monday afternoon.

When my kids were younger, and I would tell them that Wednesday was actually Thursday at the office, they would joke that I worked at the Australian Jewish News.

Tempting thought, in the middle of winter. But in Sydney, this morning, it was 14 Celsius, and rainy. Here, Victoria Day promises to be hot (27) and sunny.

Someone told me yesterday that Shavuot is when it’s okay to start wearing summer clothes.

Whatever day it is, enjoy the seasonal weather – and the long weekend.

Cheesecake for Shavuot

A couple of weeks ago, I spent a pleasant 40 minutes discussing food with Cantor Marshall Loomer – cheesecake, to be specific.

I was interviewing him for a food article in conjunction with Shavuot, the holiday associated with dairy foods and – not in order of importance – the giving of the Torah.

In a previous life, Marshall, who happens to be the cantor at my synagogue, had a small cheesecake business. He can still talk the talk, and in fact was planning to discuss his cheesecake in a sermon next week on the first day of the holiday.

His recipes sound much too tempting. Chocolate cheesecake topped with dark chocolate curls and drizzled with chocolate syrup, anyone?

But Marshall’s favourite – the one I included in the article – is a plain cheesecake with a sour cherry topping. It’s online, here.

I’d try it myself, if I wasn’t lactose-intolerant.