Why do jews read ruth on shavuot

Jewish sources offer six explanations for the custom of reading the Book of Ruth on Shavuot , the festival commemorating the giving of the Torah at Sinai: Both the Torah, which was given on Shavuot, and Ruth are all about kindness and generosity hesed. At Sinai, Israel took upon itself obedience to the Torah; Ruth likewise takes this obligation to the Torah upon herself. According to one tradition, David was born and died on Shavuot; the Book of Ruth ends with the lineage of David.

Shavuot is connected to the barley harvest also called bikkurim in the Bible ; so, too, is the story of Ruth. A midrash a teaching from rabbinic literature claims that the Torah can be adequately grasped only by those who have suffered; Ruth suffers poverty and hardship Ruth Zuta.

Shavuot Shavuot BimBam. Although the story is set in the period of the Judges BCE , it is unlikely that it was written at that time. Why was this book written? The purpose is not apparent. Some say that it is simply an interesting tale. For others, family unity is at the center of the story. We read the Scroll of Ruth because in the story she took it upon herself to be united with Naomi and the Jewish people.

This required her to keep the commandments and traditions as stated in the Torah. For those who do not know, Shavuot in Hebrew means the seven weeks counted after Passover, and Pentecost of course means 50 which is the day after 7 x 7 weeks.

Many see the giving of the Spirit on Shavuot as a renewing or restoration of the true, even magnified, Torah. Interestingly, this is hinted to in Gematria whereby the name Ruth equals , the number of commandments — beyond the 7 Noachide commandments applicable to all people — that Ruth had to accept as part of her conversion becoming a Jew.

But I want to suggest another reason we read Ruth on Shavuot, perhaps one more significant than those mentioned above. This Scroll of Ruth is the story par excellence of redemption. Firstly, the text does not clearly narrate the gerus conversion process which Ruth underwent; in fact, rabbinic authorities dispute the very point at which the conversion occurred, reflective of its apparent lack of centrality to the story. Why, then, is Megillas Ruth intrinsically connected to Shavuos?

To answer this question, we need to address another, more basic concept. Pesach, the first of the Regalim, represents our relationship with God as our redeemer.