ROCKAWAY — A special program for Children and Adults will take place on Wednesday morning, May 15 at 10:30 a.m., in observance of the Biblical holiday of Shavuot, which commemorates the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai 3325 years ago.
A highlight of the Shavuot program will be hearing and seeing the Ten Commandments being read from a Torah Scroll. An elaborate dairy luncheon and an ice cream party for children will follow. The Shavuot holiday starts at sundown on Tuesday, May 14, and continues through nightfall of Thursday, May 16. The Chabad Center of Northwest New Jersey is located at One Torah Way in Rockaway Township.
"A major focal point of the Shavuot holiday is children," explained Rabbi Asher Herson, Chabad's regional director. "When the Al-mighty asked what guarantee the Jewish people would offer to assure the perpetuity of the Torah's study and observance, they responded 'our children will be our guarantors.' Even infants are typically present in the synagogue to share in the special reading of the Ten Commandments for this reason, just as every member of the Jewish people was present at the original giving of the Torah. The ice cream party that follows is held specifically in honor of our greater community's children. This emphasis also reminds us as to the importance of educating our children with extensive Torah knowledge and values so that the flame of our spiritual heritage continues to prosper".
The reason dairy is eaten during the Shavuot holiday, Herson explained, goes back to the original circumstances at Mount Sinai. One of the Torah's Commandments is the law of kosher. Kosher preparation of meat and meat utensils is more involved than preparing kosher dairy. For the first duration of time after receiving the Torah, until time allowed for preparation of kosher meat, the Jewish people ate dairy so as to avoid eating meat that was not kosher.
"We continue this tradition to underscore the commitment of the people then, as well as our renewed commitment to the tenets of the Torah and its directives which have guided the Jewish people for thousands of years," continued Herson.
A second reading of the Ten Commandments will be held in the evening at 6:45 p.m., for those are unable to make it to the service in the morning. The reading will be followed by an Ice Cream Party.
A "stay as long as you like" all night study session will take place at the Chabad Center of Northwest New Jersey on Wednesday night, May 15, at 10:30 p.m. The all night study session will include a range of topics, including Talmud, Maimonides, Tanya, Jewish History and Jewish Philosophy and. The tradition of studying Torah during the first night of Shavuot has been observed for thousands of years.
The program is open to the entire community and participants are welcome to stay as long as they wish. Refreshments will be served throughout the night. The "All-Nighter" will take place at Chabad's Educational Center down the street from Torah Way, at 65 Pawnee Avenue.
For further information and to receive a brochure explaining more about the Shavuot holiday, call 973-625-1525 Ext. 202 or visit www.OneTorahWay.org.