Rabbi Scott Perlo is the Associate Director of Jewish Programming at Sixth & I Historic Synagogue in Washington, DC. 

Shavuot is one of those Jewish holidays that got lost.

In America, for most of the last century, celebrations of Jewish holidays have revolved around children. Until recently, most parents wouldn’t go to a synagogue for holidays unless their kids had some program. So, almost without exception, the popular Jewish holidays fall within the school year. But Shavuot typically falls in late May or early June – just after school lets out. Unless you’re real hardcore, it’s not a holiday of which you’ve heard.

Which is a shame. It’s a good one; you don’t even have to eat matzah. Read More »