Dairy for Shavuot

Hi,

Why do we customarily eat dairy on Shavuot?

Numerous reasons are suggested, including:

• To ensure that we will have two distinct cooked foods, like the egg and zroa of the seder plate, since we will have a dairy meal for the custom, and a meat meal for the general mitzvah of eating meat on Yom Tov. Also, this will provide two loaves of bread, parallel to the shtei halechem -  two loaves of bread brought as a korban on Shavuos. (Rama Orach Chaim 494:3, and see Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:160)
• After the Torah was given, the Jews would have needed many steps to make a meat meal, both in preparing the meat and in preparing new utensils. Therefore, they made a dairy meal, which required fewer steps. (Mishneh Berurah 494:12)
• Shir haShirim 4:11, "Honey and milk are beneath your tongue", is explained to refer to Torah. (Mishneh Berurah 494:13; and see Devarim Rabbah 7:3)

According to Rama (Yoreh Deah 97:1), some people actually make their bread dairy for the dairy meal of Shavuos. Even though we are normally prohibited from making dairy bread [lest one eat it with meat], this is not a concern at the dairy meal of Shavuos, since a limited quantity is prepared, and for a limited time.

Have a great day,

Mordechai

Dairy on Shavuot - Part IV

Hi,

We have mentioned that many people eat dairy on Shavuot, and given a few explanations for the practice.

One more reason for eating dairy is that the Torah is compared, in Songs of Songs, to honey and milk. For this reason many people eat honey, as well as dairy, on Shavuot.

(Mishneh Berurah 494:13)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Dairy on Shavuot, Part III

Hi,

Here is a third reason for eating dairy on Shavuot:

Meat is generally expensive, and is considered food of the wealthy; people who are humble and of low social status have historically eaten less expensive, dairy foods. Since Torah is given specifically to those who are humble, we show humility by eating dairy on Shavuot.

(cited in Taamei haMinhagim)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Shavuot - Dairy, Part II

Hi,

Yesterday I presented one reason for eating dairy foods on Shavuot.

Another reason is that the Jews returned to their tents from receiving the Torah and did not have time to prepare a meat meal, because they couldn't use food that had been cooked in their pre-Torah vessels and they would therefore have needed to prepare everything from scratch, with new implements.

Therefore, they took the easier route and prepared dairy. (Presumably this is easier because it can be prepared without heating anything up.)

(Mishneh Berurah 494:12)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Shavuot - Eating Dairy

Hello,

Some people have a practice of eating dairy foods with at least one meal on Shavuot.

One explanation for this practice is that in this way we end up eating a dairy meal and a meat meal, and so we eat from at least two separate loaves of bread - paralleling the two loaves which are brought as an offering in the Beit haMikdash on Shavuot.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 494:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai