Shavuot is one of the three Jewish liberty-oriented pilgrimages to Jerusalem (Passover, Shavuot, and Tabernacles).

Shavuot is celebrated seven weeks following the second day of Passover. It is a historical, national, agricultural, and spiritual extension of Passover. Passover highlights the physical liberty from slavery in Egypt; Shavuot highlights the spiritual liberty, embracing the values of the Ten Commandments and the Torah, in preparation for re-entry to the Land of Israel.

Shavuot is also named the Holiday of the Harvest, since it concludes the harvesting season, which starts during Passover. 

Shavuot means “weeks” in Hebrew, and its spelling is identical to the Hebrew word “vows.” Shavuot commemorates the 40 years of the Exodus, which entailed tough challenges on the way to the Land of Israel, forging the state-of-mind of the Jewish people and the Jewish nation.

Yoram Ettinger is a writer and former Israeli ambassador.