Shavuos. One night of Torah, two days of celebration.
Receive the Torah again. Stay up to learn on the first night, eat dairy meals, and recite Yizkor on the second day.
Print your Shavuos packet.
PDF — cover, the five essentials, step-by-step, the blessings, your shopping list, and a one-page FAQ. Personalized with your local times when you set your ZIP.
What you really need to know.
Shavuos, one step at a time.
- BEFORE SHAVUOS
Prepare before sundown.
Cook ahead, set candles, prepare wine, challah (two loaves), and a dairy menu for at least one meal. Pre-tear toilet paper for the next 48 hours.
- NIGHT 1
Light candles for the first night.
Recite the candle-lighting blessings with the holiday text. Yom Tov begins.
“Baruch atah Hashem… asher kid'shanu b'mitzvosav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Yom Tov… Shehecheyanu.”
- NIGHT 1
Evening service and Kiddush.
Daven Maariv with the Yom Tov Amidah. Sit down to a celebratory meal. Recite Kiddush with the Yom Tov text + Shehecheyanu over wine.
- NIGHT 1
Tikkun Leil Shavuos.
Stay up learning Torah. Many shuls hold all-night learning programs. If you can't stay up all night, learn as long as you can.
- DAY 1
Morning service + Megillas Rus.
Daven Shacharis with Hallel, Torah reading from Sinai (Yisro 19-20), and Megillas Rus before the Torah reading. Followed by Mussaf.
- DAY 1
Daytime Kiddush + dairy meal.
After davening, recite daytime Kiddush (shorter, with the Yom Tov text) and enjoy a dairy meal. Custom-based — eat what you can.
- DAY 1
Rest and learn through the afternoon.
No work permitted. Walk, learn, visit, nap. Mincha late afternoon.
- NIGHT 2
Light candles for the second night.
After nightfall, light candles for the second day from an existing flame (a long-burning candle / yahrzeit candle prepared before yom tov). Recite the Yom Tov blessing + Shehecheyanu.
- DAY 2
Morning service + Yizkor.
Daven Shacharis. Yizkor is recited after the Torah reading. (If both parents are alive, traditional custom is to step outside the sanctuary during Yizkor.)
- NIGHT 2
Havdalah and a regular week.
After nightfall on the second night, make Havdalah over wine. (When Yom Tov ends into Shabbos or vice-versa, special "Hamavdil bein kodesh l'kodesh" wording is used.)
What to say, and when.
Candle lighting blessing — Yom Tov
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו וְצִוָּנוּ לְהַדְלִיק נֵר שֶׁל יוֹם טוֹב
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu l'hadlik ner shel Yom Tov.
Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to kindle the lights of the festival.
Shehecheyanu
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, shehecheyanu v'kiyemanu v'higiyanu lazman hazeh.
Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.
Kiddush for Yom Tov (night)
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּפֶן… (text continues with Yom Tov insertion).
Baruch atah Adonai… borei p'ri ha-gafen… (full Yom Tov Kiddush text in the packet).
Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine…
Shopping & prep list.
- ·Two challahs per meal (4 total for both days)
- ·Wine or grape juice for Kiddush + 4 cups of celebration
- ·Yom Tov candles (need to light twice — for both nights)
- ·Long-burning candle / yahrzeit candle prepared BEFORE yom tov so you can light the second night from an existing flame
- ·Dairy ingredients for at least one meal (cheesecake, blintzes, lasagna — whatever you enjoy)
- ·Flowers and greenery for the home (a Shavuos custom)
- ·A copy of Megillas Rus
- ·Tikkun Leil Shavuos study material
- Add Yaaleh V'Yavo in Birkas Hamazon and the Amidah throughout both days.
- Recite Hallel each morning.
- Yizkor on day 2 only.
Common questions.
What is Shavuos?
Shavuos commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. It falls 50 days after the second night of Pesach (the count of the Omer). In the diaspora it is a 2-day yom tov.
Do I have to stay up all night?
No — the all-night learning (Tikkun Leil Shavuos) is a beautiful custom but not an obligation. Many learn for an hour or two, then go to sleep and rise normally for Shacharis. Do what you can.
Why dairy?
Several reasons appear in the sources — connection to "milk and honey" of the Torah, association with Mount Sinai (Har Gavnunim), and the symbolism of pure, simple nourishment. Eating one dairy meal is the common custom.
When is Yizkor said?
On the second day of Shavuos, after the Torah reading at the morning service.
Can I cook on Shavuos?
Yes — unlike Shabbos, cooking with an existing flame is permitted on Yom Tov for that day's needs. Don't cook from one day for another. Don't light a new fire from scratch (use a long-burning candle prepared before yom tov).
See Shavuos on your calendar.
100 years of local candle lighting and Havdalah times — including every Shavuos between now and 2126.
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