בס”ד

20 Iyar 5769 – Parashat Behar-Behuqotai – Day 35, 5 weeks of the ‘Omer

Our holy sages, the Hazal, teach us that “one who studies [two] Halachot daily is guaranteed a portion in ‘Olam Haba (the world to come).” -Masechet Meghila 28b

**************************************************

Magen Avot – e”H Ribi Mordekhai Lebhar s”t

Minhagé Hag Shavu’ot

Reading of the Ketuba on Shavu’ot

On the 50^th day of the ‘Omer, Hag haShavu’ot, the order of the Tefila is just like that of Pesah, only we say “Et yom Hag haShavu’ot hazé, zeman matan Toratenu” – “This day, the holiday of Shavu’ot, the time of the receiving of the Torah,” then we say Hallel, and then we take out two Torah scrolls. At the moment we open the Ark to take out the Torahs, it is traditional to read the Ketuba [One Ketuba for the first day and a different one for the second day (only outside of Israel)] as it appears in the Mahzor (and as recorded on YouTube- Darké Aboténou).

This is the way it is printed in all Moroccan Mahzorim, specifically Zechor leAbraham and Huqat ‘Olam, and it is traditional on Shavu’ot to sing the Ketuba in the same tune that we sing the Ketuba of a wedding.

The tradition of pouring water on one another on Shavu’ot can be looked up in the book Noheg beHochma page 205, where many reasons are cited for this, mainly that the Torah is compared to water and also this is a remembrance to the dew that Hashem poured on the Bené Israel to bring them back to life after they heard Hashem “recite” the first two commandments at Mount Sinai. However, in the book SHU”T Mayim Hayim, siman 215 and 145, the rabbis went against this tradition because people started taking it too lightly and made a Hilul Hashem of it by having water fights instead, which completely destroys this minhag and disregards its significance. Today, it is absolutely incorrect to follow/continue this minhag.

It is traditional to eat food with honey, and matsa on Shavu’ot, see Shemo Yosef siman 143, and in Noheg beHochma.

It is also traditional to make a big geniza (the burial of defunct holy books/objects) on the day after Shavu’ot, see Noheg beHochma and Nehagu ha’Am.