Shavuout (Penetcost): Interesting tidbits...

I’ve been studying this feast here to come that we are all hopeful for. I thought I’d share some interesting tidbits.

From the Jews4Jesus site:

http://jewsforjesus.org/publications/newsletter/2005_06/shavuot
How to say it and what it means
The Hebrew is shah-voo-oat, but it is also correct to say Shavuos (shah-voo-ohs). Shavuot means "weeks." The Greek word for this holiday is Pentecost, which means "50th."
• Shavuot occurs 50 days or seven weeks after Passover.
• It is a harvest celebration commemorating God's provision for and sustenance of His people.
• Shavuot shares two important characteristics with the holidays Pesach (Passover) and Sukkot (The Feast of Tabernacles):
1. All three holidays involved a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.
2. All three holidays involved firstfruit offerings at the Temple.
• Passover, in early spring, included firstfruits from the first harvest, barley.
• Shavuot, in late spring, included firstfruits from the wheat harvest. Among the many offerings given, was a "wave offering" of two loaves of leavened bread. This was the firstfruits offering.
• Sukkot, in the fall, was the final harvest and included firstfruits of olives and grapes.
Jewish tradition also suggests that King David both was born and died on Shavuot. The Resurrection connection: King David and Y'shua
Peter seemed to know the tradition that King David was born and died on Shavuot as he gave his sermon. He used the prophecies of David in the Psalms to speak of the resurrection of Jesus, the Son of David.
A 12th century Aramaic poem, Akdamut, which heralds the Messianic future, is read.
Link to the poem which is quite good and involves a marriage contract: http://www.ou.org/chagim/shavuot/akdamot.htm
"Akdamut" and "Ketuvah"
From one end of the Diaspora to the other, a need was felt to add components to the Service of Shavuot. The components added, "Akdamut," "Before I Speak," created in and added throughout the world of Ashkenazic Jewry, and "Ketuvah," "The Marriage Contract," created in and very popular in the world of Sefardic Jewry, were expressions of the unique conditions existing in those areas of the Exile.
The Story of Shavuot
(Much of the material in this section is adapted with permission, from Sefer HaTodaah of Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov)
What is the Story of Shavuot?
http://www.ou.org/chagim/shavuot/story.htm
…a few excerpts that I found particularly interesting:
The "stories" of many things, their background and purpose, can be told by explaining what they are called. To a great extent, this is true in general of the Jewish holidays and, in particular, it is true of the holiday of Shavuot. The names of this holiday are:
1. "Chag Shavuot" - The Feast (or Holiday) of Weeks
2. "Z'man Matan Torateinu" - The Time of the Giving of Our Torah
3. "Chag HaBikkurim" - The Holiday of the First Fruits
4. "Atzeret" - The Holiday of "Being Held Back, or Restrained, Close to Hashem, in the Temple"
5. "Chag HaKatzir" - The Holiday of the Cutting of the Crop
Whereas, Shavuot and Pesach have a special relationship which makes them really, in a sense, almost like one holiday, namely, the Holiday of Redemption, Physical and Spiritual, of the Jewish People.
However, there was another Jew who was a closer relative, and who therefore was first in line to be the redeemer. This individual, at this stage in the story, is referred to by the name "Tov," which may or may not, again, have been his real name but, in any case, means "good." When a person still has the opportunity to fulfill a responsibility, he is considered good. However, when confronted with the possibility of redemption, and advised that Ruth is also involved, Tov declines to accept the role because he is afraid to get involved with the Moabite controversy, and is referred to as "Ploni-Almoni," Mr. So-and-So.

Blessings,

Tony