Museum Musings Archive

back to the Museum

A sterling bowl, from early 20th century Persia 
Given to the museum in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Murray Bromberg
by their friends, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Gorman

The Fruits of your Labor

In Exodus 23:9, The Jews are commanded: "The choice first fruits of your soil shall you bring to the house of Adonai." This is to occur after the counting of the Omer. Shavuot, meaning Weeks, refers to the fact that the holiday marks the conclusion of seven weeks of the Omer period which begins after the start of Pesach. Shavuot is one of the three agricultural festivals, the others being Pesach and Sukkot.  Interestingly, the lone mention of Shavuot in the Torah, refers only to the agricultural roots of the festival: Hag Ha-katzir, The Harvest Festival. In Rabbinic times, Shavuot became identified with the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai, based on the biblical verse: "On the third new moon after the Israelites had gone forth from the land of Egypt, on that very day, they entered the wilderness of Sinai." Thus, the Torah portion for that day includes the reading of the Ten Commandments. So, Hag Matan Torah, The Holiday of the Giving of the Torah is another name associated with Shavuot. 

In Temple times, farmers would mark the bounty of their spring fruits and vegetables. And soon after, they would bring them to Jerusalem as an offering. Another name of the festival is Hag Ha-Bikurim: The Festival of the First Fruits. These offerings continued throughout Shavuot until Hanukkah, although it was especially welcomed before Sukkot.

In modern times, outside of Israel, there are few vestiges of this custom. It is on secular kibbutzim that this tradition has been revived. One of my most enduring memories of visits to Israel was at my friends’ kibbutz, Givat Hayim Ihud, on Shavuot. In the middle of a field, a stage was set up. Kibbutz members, young and old, marched across, carrying baskets and bowls, laden with first fruits of the season:  oranges, garlic, flowers, grapes, eggplant ... and more. It was a lively and joyous procession. Then, a pause. Suddenly my friend, and many other young women, their newborns in arms, perambulated across the stage, with smiles as broad and as beaming as the incredible Israeli sunshine. Indeed, these babes were the most special first fruits of this kibbutz.  

Other customs remain today. Decorating the synagogue with flowers and plants. I remember that on my Confirmation from Temple Emanu-El’s religious school, upon the completion of the 10th grade, in the late 1950’s, girls, garbed in white robes, wore floral wreaths in their hair, and carried bouquets of flowers. In rows of four, we marched in perfect formation, and with care, placed our flowers in front of the ark. The boys, in blue robes, as I recall, carried nothing. If any boys in my class remember differently, please advise! (And I am not sure that any of us, at the time, understood the significance/origin of that ritual!)

It is also traditional to eat dairy during Shavuot because the Bible (Song of Songs 4:11) compares the Torah to milk: Like honey and milk, the Torah lies under your tongue ... the Torah providing spiritual sustenance, just as the harvest provides physical nourishment; thus our practice of eating cheese-filled blintzes and cheesecake is enshrined into our Jewish dietary playbook!

Pictured above is an exquisite silver bowl, decorated with delightful expressions of fruits and flowers, from the Abraham and Natalie Museum of Temple Emanu-El. This sterling bowl, from early 20th century Persia, was given to the museum in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Murray Bromberg by their friends, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Gorman. Inscribed around the center of the bowl is the Hebrew blessing for Birkat Ha-Mazon, Grace after Meals. Just as Shavuot, Hag Ha-Bikurim, Holiday of the First Fruits, gives thanks to God for his blessings of the first fruits, so does this lovely fruit bowl signify thanks for all the blessings of God’s bounty.

--Ruth Page, Museum Director

Contributions to the museum are a special way to remember those you wish to honor on memorialize send your donations to the synagogue.   Attention: Museum