B"H
Thursday, Sivan 5, 5786 (49th day of the Omer) / May 21, 2026
The holiday of Shavuot begins tonight (Thursday night). In Israel the holiday is celebrated one day (Thursday night & Friday). In the Diaspora it is celebrated for two days (Thursday night, Friday & Shabbat). On Shavuot we celebrate G-d’s giving us the Torah on Mount Sinai. Here are questions & answers concerning the Holiday of Shavuot. here are some of the names for Mount Sinai:
1. Har Sinai comes from the word Sneh - bush. This refers to the burning bush on Mount Sinai, where G-d’s first revelation to Moshe took place. It was there that G-d told Moshe to speak to Pharaoh to let the Jewish people out of Egypt.
Also, Sinai is the same as the word sinah – hatred. By giving the Torah to the Jewish people and not to other nations, it caused a hatred by the other nations.
2. Har Ha-Elo-him - G-d's Mountain. Because G-d revealed Himself there to the Jewish people.
3. Beit Imi - My Mother's House. At Mount Sinai the Jews were like newborns as they became a newborn nation, thus, Mount Sinai was like a mother who gave birth to the Jewish nation.
4. Har Chemed - Desirable Mountain. G-d desired this mountain as the place from which to give the most desirable treasure, the Torah, to the Jewish people.
5. Har Moriah - Mountain of Teaching – On this mountain G-d taught Moshe the Torah. Moris the name of a fragrance. Torah brings fragrance to the world.
It is customary to stay up the first night of Shavuot (Thursday night) to study Torah & recite the selected passages from the entire Torah as printed in the book called, “Tikun Leil Shavuot.” We also recite all the 613 Commandments.
It is also customary to eat dairy on the first day of Shavuot. Reasons: 1) On Shavuot, when Jews received the Torah, they were considered as newborns. Just as an infant is nourished through milk, we, too, eat dairy on Shavuot to symbolize the birth of the Jewish nation. 2) Moshe was on Mount Sinai forty days. The numerical value of “Chalav” (milk) is 40. There are other reasons too.
King David passed away on Shavuot. Also, the Baal Shem Tov(Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov), founder of the Chassidic movement, passed away on Shavuot.
The Yizkor prayer, remembering our loved ones who passed away, is recited on Shavuot. In the Diaspora, the Yizkor is recited on the second day of Shavuot (on Shabbat). In Israel, where only one day is celebrated, it will be said on Friday.
Remember to attend and bring your children to synagogue to listen to the reading of the Ten Commandments on Friday morning.
SHABBAT SHALOM & CHAG SAMEACH – A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SHAVUOT
Montreal candle lighting times: Thursday evening: 8:07 pm / Friday: 8:08 pm / Shabbat ends: 9:13 pm