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Shavuot is especially joyful, because the Torah was given on this day, and through the Torah we are able to improve both body and soul along with all aspects of life. This should be reflected through particularly festive meals.
Some stay up all night learning Torah, to show their great love and devotion for it.
It is also customary to read the Book of Ruth. Ruth came from a wealthy Moabite family. After being widowed, her decision to remain with her mother-in-law, Naomi, and convert to Judaism impoverished her. Ruth fulfilled the words of the Mishna: “One who observes the Torah while poor will ultimately observe it while wealthy.” She had the privilege of seeing her descendants, David and Solomon, sit on the throne of Israel. Because Ruth exemplified how wonderful the Torah is, it is fitting to read about her on Shavuot. Additionally, King David later died on Shavuot, so it is an appropriate time to read about his lineage.
Another reason to read the Book of Ruth on Shavuot is that they both deal with conversion. When the Jewish people accepted the Torah at Mount Sinai, they were effectively converting. Every convert experiences a personal Mount Sinai moment when he or she accepts Torah and mitzvot upon themselves in front of a rabbinic court. The amazing statement Ruth utters to her mother-in-law, “Your people shall be my people, and your God shall be my God” (Ruth 1:16), is the essence of conversion.
Finally, acts of kindness, fundamental to Torah observance, are pivotal to the Book of Ruth. Indeed, we are told of Ruth’s kindness in the very first chapter. She chose to leave her nation and birthplace to accompany Naomi, who had lost her husband and children and was now alone. Afterwards, Ruth was kind to the much older Boaz, agreeing to marry him and have a child with him. For his part, Boaz was kind enough to marry this convert from a foreign nation despite his impressive lineage. In the merit of these redemptive acts of kindness, the Davidic dynasty was born.
It is customary to eat dairy (such as sweet and tasty dairy cakes). Some eat foods sweetened with honey as well. This reminds us of how sweet and precious the Torah is, as the verse states, “Honey and milk are under your tongue” (Song of Songs 4:11). The Sages tell us this sweetness is a reward for our having proclaimed at Mount Sinai: “All that the Lord has spoken we will do” (Exodus 24:7; see 2:15 above).
