Shavuot marks the transformative event of receiving the Ten Commandments, and we will celebrate this year by gathering (online, of course) with our BI community and with the larger Reconstructionist community. On Erev Shavuot, Thursday, May 28, we’ll come together by Zoom at 7:30 p.m., beginning with a short festival service in which we’ll celebrate Janine Paskovitz Pastor’s work with us as our rabbinic intern this past year, and bless her as she enters the rabbinate. Following the service, we will begin learning with two sessions focusing on Torah text and interpretation. One will be taught by Richard Remenick and one by Janine Paskovitz Pastor. After that, those who wish to continue studying will have the opportunity to participate in the international online program presented by Reconstructing Judaism, offering Torah learning until 7:30 the next morning (yes, you get to stay up all night!). You can follow the RJ offerings through their facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ReconstructingJudaism/) where they will be streaming throughout the night. At 9 am Friday morning, our morning spiritual practice service will include Yizkor.

As part of the Shavuot celebration, let’s transform our spaces by decorating them for the holiday with flowers and fruits to mark the agricultural roots of the holiday (the offering of first fruits). It is also traditional to eat dairy (blintzes, ice cream, pizza, etc.), and at the end of our Thursday night service, before we join the international program, we’ll be invited to share with each other descriptions or images of the offerings we brought to the holiday.