DIY Guide to Keeping Shavuot

Between the three feasts of YHWH that happen in the springtime, and the three that occur in the fall, stands Shavuot. While lots of attention is given to Passover and Sukkot, the Feast of Weeks can feel a bit neglected to me. This is too bad, since, like the center of the menorah, this is not less significant because it stands slightly further apart than the others. On the contrary, celebrating the giving of the Torah and the Ruach Hakodesh should be a rich time for us all.

How do we make it a special time when there is so little help from the outside world? Some items for Passover make their way into grocery stores, and the fall feasts have many traditions in themselves. But search 'Shavuot' in a Judaica shopping site, and nary a return will you get. I don't get that, because this is a set apart time. So I'm sharing with you a few ideas to make your Shavuot celebration special this year. Here are a few things to try:

Chamomile Honeycomb Ice Cream from Snixy Kitchen
 Have you ever made candy honeycomb? There is nothing like it!

Rose and Pink Peppercorn Chevre with Honey from The House That Lars Built
"Like honey and milk the Torah lies under your tongue." This passage in Song of Songs is largely the reason we associate Shavuot with dairy treats and honey.

Bake Challah Bread from Smitten Kitchen
Shavuot requires two loaves of bread in Scripture. Find a good bread recipe or two to try ahead of time to serve on Shavuot. Challah is traditional but you can try any kind.

Fig and Cheddar Grilled Cheese from A House in the Hills
Shavuot is a no work day so choose foods that you can prepare ahead of time or are extremely simple to make like grilled cheese. 

Frozen Yogurt Bon Bons from Sugar & Cloth
This would be easy to make healthy by using natural food coloring and using chopped dried fruit instead of sprinkles.

10 Commandments Cupcake Toppers from Chai and Home
ALL THE HEART EYES for this idea!

Honeycomb Cookies from A Beautiful Mess

Milk and Honey Printable from Land of Honey
Use this free download to decorate your space.

DIY Color Wrapped Wheat from Inspired By Charm
Since Shavuot is correlated with the first fruits of the wheat harvest, incorporating wheat into your decorations would be very fitting.

Honeycomb Wall Decal from Idle Hands Awake
This super simple project is just washing tape shaped to look like a beehive. A great reminder of the sweetness of the Living Word given to us by YHWH.

DIY Stylish Tzedekah Boxes from Chai and Home
In Scripture giving was a time of joyous celebration, not a begrudged obligation. Making a pretty tzedekah box can help restore that joy.

Pasta Crown from Dana Israeli
A much more glamorous version of a macaroni necklace.

Homemade 10 Commandments Memory Game from The Climbing Tree
The ten commandments (along with the rest of the Torah) were given at Shavuot so this would be a perfect way to teach children YHWH's word. I'm sure the adults would benefit too!

Host a Torah Study
We talked last week about having an all-night Torah study. We need to believe and act like the Word of YHWH is the point. It is limitlessly valuable and worth celebrating in and of itself.

Get Immersed 
Since the Ruach HaKodesh fell baptizing the believers, getting mikvahed or immersed in living water would be a very appropriate Shavuot activity.

Chag sameach! I'm still interested in what you're doing to celebrate and I hope you'll share pictures with me over on Instagram!