Shavu'ot Purpose. This Festival is observed to commemorate the time when the Children of Israel received the Law on Mount Sinai. Its agricultural significance is that it marked the beginning of the summer harvest in ancient Palestine. Date. The 6th and 7th Sivan (one day in Israel). Names Chag Shavu'ot - "The Feast of Weeks" (Exodus 34:22). So called because a period of seven weeks is counted from Pesach to this Festival. This period is called "The Counting of the Omer" from the original law governing the offering of an Omer (measure) of barley from the new produce. Zeman Matan Torateinu - "The Season of the Giving of the Torah." So called because seven weeks after the Exodus, the Israelites assembled at the foot of Mount Sinai when God proclaimed the Ten Commandments. Yom Habikkurim - "The Festival of the First Fruits" (Numbers 28: 26). Since it is the summer festival corresponding with the beginning of the harvest, the Jews joyously brought an offering of the best ripe produce of the fields as a thanksgiving to God. Chag Hakatzir - "The Feast of the Harvest" (Exodus 23: 16). So called to indicate that it was the season of the wheat harvest. Atzeret - "Concluding Festival." Known in rabbinic literature by this name since it is the "Concluding Festival" to Pesach. Another reason for this name is that Shavuot has no major symbols or distinctive rites, and its single festival feature is the prohibition of work- Mimelachah Atzur! Observances. In its observances, both aspects of the Festival - the historical and the agricultural - are portrayed. In the Synagogue The Ten Commandments are read in the synagogue on the first day. The Bimah and the Ark are decorated with flowers to symbolize the slopes of Sinai, which according to legend were covered with vegetation. The pious stay up the whole of the first night of the Festival and study an anthology of sacred writings called Tikun Leil Shavu'ot - "A Shavuot night Lectionary." The Book of Ruth is read for its delightful background of a summer harvest. A second reason is found in the legend that King David, who was a descendant of Ruth, was born and died on Shavuot. In some congregations it is usual to read a liturgical poem entitled Akdamut ( a praise of God's creations) before the reading of the Law on the first day. This poem is ascribed to Rabbi Meir b. Isaac of Orleans (11th century). Home Customs Milk dishes are the customary foods. In addition to their appropriateness for the summer season, they also symbolize the Torah, which is likened to milk for its nourishment.