Shavuot, also called the Feast of Weeks, is a significant Jewish holiday celebrated in Israel. The festival marks the day God gave the Torah to the entire nation of Israel assembled at Mount Sinai. It occurs exactly seven weeks or fifty days after the second day of Passover, earning it the name 'Pentecost' in Greek, which means fiftieth. The significance of Shavuot is dual as it also commemorates the time when the first fruits were harvested and brought to the Temple, making it a harvest festival of the Jewish calendar.
On the day of Shavuot, it is customary in Israel for the Jews to attend synagogue services. Throughout the night, they engage in Torah study and a reading of the Book of Ruth; one of the books of the Hebrew Bible. The main reason behind reading the Book of Ruth is that its events are centered around the harvest season. It is also traditional to eat dairy foods during Shavuot, such as cheesecake and blintzes, although the reason behind this custom is disputable and varies based on different interpretations.
Shavuot is considered a public holiday in Israel, and as such, nearly all institutions are closed on this day. Children often create artistic and colorful paper cutouts of fruits and Mount Sinai, which are then used to decorate homes and synagogues. The decorations symbolize the dual aspects of Shavuot – salvation and harvest. To the spiritual segment of Israel's society, Shavuot epitomizes the eternal link between the Jewish people and the Torah, whereas, to the agricultural segment, it signals the start of Israel's fruit harvest season.