Shavuot, 2-day Jewish festival, begins tonight

Shavuot, the two-day Jewish festival marking the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, begins tonight, with traditions including staying up all night learning Torah on the first night and going to the synagogue on the first day to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments.

Shavuot, a Hebrew word meaning weeks, marks the completion of the seven weeks between Passover and Shavuot. It took 49 days for the Israelites to travel from Egypt to the foot of Mount Sinai where they were to receive the Torah, the Hebrew Bible.

On the second day, the Yizkor memorial service is recited. Some congregations read the Book of Ruth publicly, as King David, whose death occurred on Shavuot, was a descendant of Ruth the Moabite.

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