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SHAVUOT: Celebrating the

Fruits of Our Labor

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Shavuot: Celebrating the Fruits of our Labor

Program Breakdown:

1. Introduction to Shavuot

2. Beyond Cheesecake: The Significance of Israel’s Booming Dairy Industry

3. Mischak HeChalav / The Dairy Game

4. Bikurim: The Species of Israel, The People of Israel in the Land of Israel

5. Song: “Saleinu al K’tafeinu / Our Baskets on our Shoulders”

1. Introduction to Shavuot

Shavuot is an important holiday on the Jewish calendar, celebrating the pivotal event of the

Jewish people’s receiving of the Torah at Har Sinai (Mt. Sinai) and their subsequent spiritual

passage into “Jewish nationhood.” However other themes also abound, and we encourage

you to use Shavuot to explore the more recent birth of the Jewish nation, strengthened by

the Zionist dream and attained through exhausting, physical labor that turned the harsh land

of Israel into a welcoming home for Jewish people throughout the word.

Two themes will be explored in this session: the Shavuot custom of eating dairy products

and the Biblical practice of “bikurim,” the first fruits of the season, which the Jewish people

would bring as an offering to the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple) in Jerusalem. While these

themes will be briefly explained according to their traditional sources, we will more fully

explore these themes through the prism of Zionism and contemporary Israeli life.

We encourage you to get in the Shavuot spirit and provide a lite spread of dairy products

(cheesecake, cheeses, etc.) and foods that include the “Seven Species of Israel” (wheat,

barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates).

2. Beyond Cheesecake: The Significance of Israel’s Booming Dairy Industry

From its earliest days, the State of Israel was established through agricultural work, and by

the second half of the 19th century Jewish chalutzim/pioneers had established dairies. Today

Israel is known as a world leader in the dairy industry, and the Israeli people consume large

amounts of cheeses, yogurts and other dairy products. The following information helps

explain the history of Israel’s dairy industry and its connection to the Zionist vision.

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Theodor Herzl (1860-1904), often called the Father of Political Zionism, was the first to

actively promote the idea of a modern Jewish state in the Land of Israel. In his vision for

Israel, he imagined not only a physical home for the Jewish people, but a major scientific

center that would advance Israel and even revolutionize the world. Central to this goal would

be agriculture, the process through which the Jewish settlers would transform a barren and

harsh region into a rich and fertile homeland that would provide for and feed generations to

come.

The scientific and technological developments that would lead this transformation were

spearheaded with the establishment of the Mikveh Israel Agricultural School in 1870. The

first modern dairy farm was established within the Mikveh Israel School in 1880. Since its

humble beginnings over 150 years ago, Israel now supports a booming local dairy industry.

Today milk is produced on 940 farms, including family farms on moshavim and cooperative

dairy farms on kibbutzim, across the country. Many of these farms have been producing milk

since the heyday of the Kibbutzim and serve as an important link between modern

agriculture and the country’s founding Zionist settlers who labored and worked the harsh

land, with only an inkling of a dream as to the country that Israel would become.

The national dairy herd first comprised of the Israeli-Holstein breed, which was developed by

the Israeli genetic improvement system, with the cows adapting to the hot climate. Today,

the Israeli cow is considered a global leader in milk yields, with the highest national milk and

milk solid yields in the world according the Israeli Dairy Board.

Israeli supermarkets boast an amazing range of healthy and tasty Israeli-produced (i.e.

“local”) dairy products. This is a miraculous feast and testament to the ingenuity and

dedication of Israeli farmers and scientists who have adapted to the desert conditions of the

region: the heat, humidity, endemic diseases, and limited land and water resources.

Israel’s success in the dairy industry has not gone unnoticed. Countries around the world

have consulted with Israel’s dairy industry leaders and have launched Israeli-inspired

projects in their countries.

Dr. Joshua Miron of the Volcani Center’s Institute of Animal Science, an Israeli, government-

run research institute for the agriculture industry says, “Israel’s pioneering advances in

agriculture have developed very good relations with the world, including third world and

western countries. In the area of dairy farming and agriculture, Israel’s advances are a light

to the nations.”

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3. Mischak HeChalav / The Dairy Game1

This fun game will:

● teach students Hebrew vocabulary for basic dairy products

● give them insight into contemporary Israeli eating habits

● provide them with a cultural or historical fact relating to each item

● challenge them to use their Hebrew skills and the included clues to match the new

Hebrew word with its corresponding image

Playing Instructions:

Divide your groups into pairs or small groups. Print (in color) one full set of matching cards (8

Hebrew/Clue cards and 8 Picture cards) for each pair/group. Give each pair/group the 16

cards pre-shuffled.

Students should first read the Hebrew/Clue cards. If they know what the Hebrew word

means, that’s great. But all students, even those who already know the Hebrew word, should

read the provided clue as it provides some cultural/historical information about the dairy

product. Students should them try to match the Hebrew/Clue card with its corresponding

Picture card.

When students are finished with this short activity, review the answers together. If possible,

offer samples of some of the dairy products mentioned. Also answer any follow-up questions

students may have (such as, What is za’atar?).

After you have reviewed the answers and, hopefully, had a chance to sample some of the

items, you can go around the group and ask each student to form a sentence using one of

the newly learned Hebrew words.

You can write these sentence prompts on a board or direct them to their Otzar Milim:

I like _________.

Ani ohev _________.

Ani ohevet ________.

masc אני אוהב ________.

femn אני אוהבת ________.

I don’t like _________. Ani lo ohev _________.

Ani lo ohevet ________.

masc אני לא אוהב ________.

femn אני לא אוהבת ________.

I eat _________. Ani ochel _________.

Ani ochelet _________.

masc אני אוכל _________.

femn אני אוכלת _________.

I don’t eat _________. Ani lo ochel _________.

Ani lo ochelet ________.

masc אני לא אוכל _________.

femn אני לא אוכלת _________.

1 See the end of this file for the game cards to print.

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4. Bikurim: The Species of Israel, The People of Israel in the Land of Israel

Shavuot’s many monikers highlight different aspects of this important festival. Two names,

“Chag HaBikurim / Festival of the First Fruits” and “Chag HaKatzir / Festival of the Harvest”

hearken to the agricultural origins of the holiday, as related in the Biblical verse:

ציר כוריוחג הק ה... ב ד ר תזרע בש יך אש מעש

You shall observe the festival of the harvest, the first fruits of your labors, which you will

sow in the field…

Shmot 23:16

Interestingly, bikurim / first fruits, does not mean the first fruits to be harvested in the fields.

Rather, it refers to the significance of the fruits. According to Jewish tradition, the bikurim

comprised of the Shivat HaMinim / Seven Species of Israel listed in this Biblical verse:

ץ ר ה א ט הוח ער אנה[ וענביםן ]וגפ ש מון ו ת ץ ר ר ן ודבש ]זית א מ [.תמריםש

A land of wheat, and barley, and [grape] vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of

oil-producing olives and [date] honey.

Dvarim 8:8

The following excerpt from the Mishnah (the Oral Tradition) further describes the Shavuot

celebration:

"The inhabitants of the district assembled in a city of the district and spent the night in the

town square. Early in the morning, their leader said: 'Let us rise and go up to Zion, to the

house of the Lord our God.' Those who lived near Jerusalem brought fresh figs and grapes,

and those who lived far away brought dried figs and raisins...The sounds of the flute

announced the pilgrims’ coming until they neared Jerusalem, when they sent messengers

ahead and arranged their first fruits for presentation.”

The agricultural aspects of Shavuot, beautifully described in the above passages, were

emphasized by the early ZIonist chalutzim/pioneers and on Kibbutzim. These chalutzim and

Kibbutzim were, themselves, consumed by an agricultural life inspired by their dreams of

creating a hospitable homeland for the Jewish people.

Early Zionist folksongs, such as “Saleinu al K’tafeinu / Our Baskets on Our Shoulders”

below, capture the chalutzim and Kibbutzim’s deep identification with Shavuot, while

providing a special snapshot of a period in modern Jewish history when a segment of the

Jewish people re-connected with our Biblical, agriculture roots.

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5. Song: “Saleinu al K’tafeinu / Our Baskets on Our Shoulders”

This classic Shavuot song includes beautiful imagery of the land of Israel and is filled with

agricultural themes and an air of celebration.

Teach the song using the suggested tips in the General Leader’s Guide.

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Our Baskets on Our Shoulders Saleinu al K’tafeinu פנונו על כת סל

Lyrics by Levin Kipnis Melody by Yedidya Admon2

Our baskets on our shoulders,

our heads adorned with blooms,

from every corner we come,

bringing the first fruits.

From Yehuda and the Shomron,

From the valley and the Galilee.

Move aside and make way,

we’re bringing first fruits,

bang, bang, bang the drum

play the flute!

Our fields and our gardens

have ripened harvests,,

our vineyards, our vegetable beds

have produced wonderful first fruits

Figs, apples,

grapes and almonds

Move aside and make way,

we’re bringing first fruits,

bang, bang, bang the drum

play the flute!

How lovely our dancing circles,

how beautiful our procession!

The harvest of the land is ours,

bringing the first fruits,

from the Golan, from the Bashan

from the Negev and the Yarden!

Move aside and give us way,

we’re bringing the first fruits

bang, bang, bang the drum

play the flute!

Saleinu al k'tefeinu,

rasheinu aturim,

mik'tzot ha'aretz banu,

hevenu bikurim.

Mi'Yeudah u’me'ha'shomron

min ha'emek vehagalil

panu derech lanu,

bikurim itanu,

hach, hach, hach ba'tof

chalal bechalil!

Sadeinu ve'ganeinu

hivshilu yevulim,

k'rameinu, mik'shoteinu

bikru pri hilulim.

Te'enim u’tapuchim

anavim u’shkedim.

panu derech lanu,

bikurim itanu,

hach, hach, hach batof

chalal bechalil!

Mah tovu ma'agaleinu,

mah yafu haturim!

Zimrat ha'aretz lanu,

hevenu bikurim,

mi'Golan, mi'Bashan

min ha'Negev ve'ha'Yarden!

panu derech lanu,

bikurim itanu,

hach, hach, hach batof

chalal bechalil!

,נוינו על כתפ יסל

,עטורים ראשינו

מקצות הארץ באנו

.הבאנו ביכורים

מיהודה ומשומרון

מן העמק והגליל

נו דרך לנו ,פ

,ביכורים איתנו

ך, הך, הך בתוף ה

ל בחליל ל !ח

ד ,וגננו נוש

הבשילו יבולים

כרמינו, מקשותנו

.ביכרו פרי הילולים

תאנים ותפוחים

.ענבים ושקדים

נו דרך לנו ,פ

,ביכורים איתנו

ך, הך, הך בתוף ה

ל בחליל ל !ח

נו ,מה טובו מעגל

!מה יפו הטורים

ו,זמרת הארץ לנ

.הבאנו ביכורים

מבשן ,מגולן

ן,מן הנגב והירד

נו דרך לנו ,פ

ביכורים איתנו,

ך, הך, הך בתוףה

ל בחליל ל !ח

View song at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DebqEYjWxi4. This is a contemporary rendition by the band

Shevet Yehudah. Only the first stanza of the song is sung, however the music holds it own and offers a great

example of Mizarchi music.

View song at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnXNIeIJLTI. This clip comes from a popular Israeli children’s

series Rinat Gabai and Mimi. The song itself begins at 2:15 and includes the full song lyrics provided on the

songsheet.

2מלעלית )אשכנזית(. בהתאם לכך, הוספנו ההברות המודגשות בתעתיק הן אלו המוטעמות בשיר, המבוצע בהטעמה

וכו'(. nueinu, ktefeisal" במילים הנהגות בצירה בגוף ראשון רבים )iאת האות "

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Mischak HeChalav / The Dairy Game

INSTRUCTIONS: Make a color copy of all 16 cards. Cut them out and shuffle them. Give

each pair/small group a set of the 16 cards. The game instructions appear in the above file.

Shoko be'Sakit קיתששוקו ב

First Word: Sounds like the English word for the same treat

Second Word: An odd choice of packaging for this product

נה Labaneh לב

This Arabic word refers to the color of this thick spread,

often flavored with regional olive oil and za’atar.

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נה Gveenah Levanah גבינה לב

A lite spread named for its color.

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ה Gveenah Tzehoobah גבינה צהוב

It doesn’t matter whether it’s sliced or shredded, this is named for its

color.

ב שקדים ל Chalav Shkedim ח

Second Word: While not one of the “Seven Species of Israel,” this is

closely associated with Israel, especially when its trees blossom during

the Tu B’Shvat season.

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Katzefet קצפת

Like much of the modern Hebrew language, this word originates from (i.e. shares the same

root letters with) a word in Biblical Hebrew. The word from this Biblical verse is somehow

reminiscent of this delicious treat.

“Like foam on the surface of the water”

נ י מים קצף"כ ל פ "ע

Book of Hoshea 10:7

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ב ל Chalav ח

Israel is often called “The land flowing with _____ and honey.” Though

in truth, “_____” refers to the refreshing drink made from ground

almonds and “honey” refers to the sweet syrup of dates.

'קוטג Kotedge

Great on bread, with salad, or with a side of olives, this has the same

name in English.

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Otzar Milim

Holiday Words

Holiday Chag חג

Shavuot

(literally, “weeks”)

Shavuot שבועות

First (Choicest) fruits Bikurim ביכורים

Harvest Katzeer קציר

Giving of the Torah Matan Torah מתן תורה

Studying Torah Limud Torah לימוד תורה

Synagogue Beit HaKneset בית הכנסת

Festival meal Se’oodah סעודה

Mischak HeChalav / The Dairy Game – Phrases

I like _________.

Ani ohev _________.

Ani ohevet ________.

masc אני אוהב ________.

femn אני אוהבת ________.

I don’t like _________. Ani lo ohev _________.

Ani lo ohevet ________.

_. אני לא אוהב _______ masc

femn אני לא אוהבת ________.

I eat _________. Ani ochel _________.

Ani ochelet _________.

masc אני אוכל _________.

femn אני אוכלת _________.

I don’t eat _________. Ani lo ochel _________.

Ani lo ochelet ________.

masc אני לא אוכל _________.

אוכלת _________. אני לא femn

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Dairy Products

Cheesecake Oogat gvinah וגת גבינהע

Ice cream Glidah גלידה

Blintzes

Blinches ס’בלינצ

Milkshake Shake שייק

Ice Coffee Ice kafe' ס קפהיאי

Yogurt Yogurt יוגורט

Chocolate milk (in a bag) Shoko (be’sakit) קיתששוקו ב

Labene

Arabic word; a thick,

spreadable cheese

Labaneh ב הנ ל

White cheese

A spreadable cheese similar

to yogurt

Gvinah levanah בנה גבינה ל

Yellow cheese

A category that includes

traditional sliced and

shredded cheeses such as

Edam, Swiss and Cheddar

Gvinah tzehoobah גבינה צהובה

Almond milk

A non-dairy, Israeli delicacy

Chalav shkedim דים ק חלב ש

Whipped cream Katzefet ת קצ פ

Milk Chalav חלב

Cottage cheese Kotedge ג ’קוט

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Song - Saleinu al K’tafeinu Words

Basket / Our baskets Sal / Saleinu ל נויסל /.ס

Shoulder / Our shoulders Ketef / Ktefeinu ף נו /כת פ כ ת

Head / Our heads Rosh / Rosheinu נו/ראש ראש

The Land (Israel) Ha'Aretz ארץה

First fruits Bikurim ביכורים

Drum Tof תוף

Flute Chalil ליל ח

Field / Our fields Sadeh / Sadeinu ה ד נו /ש ד ש

Garden / Our gardens Gan / Ganenu נונ ג/ גן

Vineyard / Our vineyards Kerem / Krameinu ם נו /כ ר כרמ

Garden bed / Our garden

beds

Miksheh / Miksheinu ה נו /מקש מקש

Figs Te’enim נים א ת

Apples Tapuchim פוחים ת

Grapes Anavim ענבים

Almonds Shkedim דים שק

How good, how lovely Mah tovu ה טובו מ

Circle / Our circles

Here it refers to the traditional

Israeli folk dancing circle

Ma’agal / Ma’agaleinu עגל עג /מ נול מ