Rededicating Your Commitment to Creation Care this Shavuot

This Saturday at sundown our Jewish friends will gather for two days in celebration of Shavuot and commemorate the gift of Torah at Mt. Sinah. It is a harvest celebration with deep spiritual meaning and an opportunity to rededicate oneself to G-d through living by Torah. On Shavuot, it is customary to enjoy dairy foods. As Torah nourished the people of Israel; Torah is like divine milk. Torah is read during Shavuot but it is eaten (and very much enjoyed) as well!

There are many ways that these two days of Shavuot can be experienced as a “green holiday” filled with sustainable rituals. One way is to enjoy organic dairy foods and if possible, those sourced from farmers and producers geographically close to you. Serving and enjoying fruits that are in season is also another way to honor the land while keeping Shavuot. In the Southeast, we are blessed with plentiful organic strawberries, blueberries, grapefruit, mangoes and Valencia oranges right now. Try this adventurous recipe that blends strawberries, yogurt and other fresh ingredients into a delicious soup.  Other recipes that celebrate spring harvest can be found here.

To our Jewish friends, Happy Shavuot and may your rededication of the Torah breathe new life into your commitment to care for G-d’s earth. May we all be inspired by this ancient tradition of Shavuot and celebrate the gift that this good earth is to us all!