Unpack layers of Biblical and rabbinic text to understand the inner mechanics of this sometimes-overlooked but super-important holiday.

Shavuos celebrates the Giving of the Torah at Sinai. Jews in every generation gather to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments, for on this day they receive renewed strength in their mission to brighten G-d’s world.

Discover the 6 steps of spiritual preparation the Jewish People observed at Mt. Siani, over a six-day period prior to the Giving of the Torah, and how you can take these spiritual steps today, as our ancestors did more than 3,300 years ago.

Join together before the holiday, as we remember our loved ones in a traditional Yizkor memorial webcast. Featuring an inspiring memorial message by Rabbi Moshe Bryski and heartfelt tunes by cantor Aryeh Leib Hurwitz.

The "taamim" (cantillation notes) used for reading the Ten Commandments differ when read alone than when read communally in the synagogue. What is the meaning of this special version of musical notes?

An overview of some the unique customs associated with the holiday of Shavuot, along with their practical reasons and spiritual explanations.

Mature Love of the Righteous and Youthful Love

The Ten Commandments, which have served as the bedrock of morality for generations, are central in Judaism. Rabbi Teldon details the make-up of these mitzvahs.

Learn the basics of which foods are kosher, how to shop for kosher foods and keep a kosher kitchen, and why this mitzvah is so important.

Every manufacturer creates a manual. What is the manual for life?

Study the daily lesson of Sefer HaMitzvos for day 312 with Rabbi Mendel Kaplan, where he teaches the mitzvah in-depth with added insight and detail.

Ask any child what we celebrate on Shavuot, and the obvious answer is the giving of the Torah at Sinai; yet the Torah makes no mention of it. How do we make sense of this glaring omission?

How do you explain and make the Ten Commandments relevant to children? Watch how Rabbi Manis Friedman explains them in a fresh way so that even a puppet could understand.

We are still “married” to our ideals and spiritual vision; we simply need to be reunited with our true, inner selves.

The Mitzvah ATM is about to dispense the Torah in honor of the holiday of Shavuot. One snag, though: It wants trustworthy guarantors...

“The Rebbe didn't leave a legacy; he left marching orders”

Simple-to-follow instructions on how to light the Shabbat candles.

The Parshah Report this week has been preempted by an infomercial. Get your credit card ready.

Being Jewish is fun in so many ways. Why do you like being Jewish?

Want to know what Judaism is? Start with this fun video.

A compilation of moments with the Rebbe, of righteous memory, highlight some of his key messages and ideas.

Watching the recent terror attacks and the grave danger to our fellow Jews in Israel, everyone is asking what can be done. Presented are practical things we can all do to help. Yes, we can make a real difference!

Every manufacturer creates a manual. What is the manual for life?

Unpack layers of Biblical and rabbinic text to understand the inner mechanics of this sometimes-overlooked but super-important holiday.

Ask any child what we celebrate on Shavuot, and the obvious answer is the giving of the Torah at Sinai; yet the Torah makes no mention of it. How do we make sense of this glaring omission?

An overview of some the unique customs associated with the holiday of Shavuot, along with their practical reasons and spiritual explanations.

The Mitzvah ATM is about to dispense the Torah in honor of the holiday of Shavuot. One snag, though: It wants trustworthy guarantors...

A short overview of the customs and meaning of the holiday of Shavuot, celebrating the giving of the Torah.

Understanding the nature of differing opinions in Torah, and how the Halachic ruling does not favor one view and reject the other, but rather unites them both.

In explaining why the sacrifices that a Jew was obligated to offer in the Temple in honor of Shavuos were not offered on the holyday itself but during the weekdays which follow, this class offers insight into the nature of G-d’s choice of the Children of Israel.

Each holiday has its special mitzvah that is unique to the respective festival (like shofar on Rosh Hashana, matzah on Passover etc.). Yet, it seems we don’t find in the Torah any particular mitzvah for Shavuot?!

Shavuot, when we received the Torah at Sinai, is the culmination of the Exodus on Passover. Yet, on Passover we stay clear of the smallest amount of chometz, but on Shavuot two loaves of leavened bread were offered in the Holy Temple.

The giving of the Torah reconciles the dichotomy in everything and reveals the unifying essence in both the spiritual and the material.

If one had a disturbingly ominous dream, Halachah allows one to fast even on a Sabbath or Festival – notwithstanding the obligation to feast on these days – since the person is distressed over his dream, he would derive 'pleasure' from fasting and not from eating. The one exception to the rule is Shavuot—the Festival of the Giving of the Torah. On Shavuot one must eat! This appears strange, given that all the other festivals celebrate a physical, bodily salvation, whereas Shavuot marks the giving of the Torah—a profoundly spiritual event?! The answer explores the nature of pleasure and the essence of Shavuot. (Likutei Sichos vol. 23 pp. 27)

In the Talmud, there is a dispute between the sages as to what date the Torah was given at Sinai. According to one opinion, Moses added an extra day of preparation before the giving of the Torah. How could Moses depart from G-d's timeline?

Rabbi Yosef, the Talmud relates, would celebrate Shavuot, the Festival of the Giving of the Torah, with a unique banquet. The puzzling statement he said in connection with the feast is the subject of this class. Probing the layers of the Sage’s words reveals startling new depth to our appreciation of G-d’s most precious gift. (Based on Likutei Sichos volume 16)

Many reasons are suggested to explain why we eat dairy foods on Shavuot. Of all the classic reasons offered, the one that appears to be the simplest is strangely absent. This class will explain why, and in so do doing will address the great mission of the Jewish people that began at Sinai. (Based in part on Likutei Sichos vol. 8, Naso 3)

Discover the 6 steps of spiritual preparation the Jewish People observed at Mt. Siani, over a six-day period prior to the Giving of the Torah, and how you can take these spiritual steps today, as our ancestors did more than 3,300 years ago.

Associating dairy-delicacies with the annual celebratory observance of Matan Torah (giving of the Torah) seems as natural as blintzes and sour cream; yet the origins of this near ubiquitous custom appear artificial and even contradictory to the mandated holiday meat menu. Mixing medieval manuscripts with contemporary clarification, a sweet and fruitful medley of delightful insight, rhyme and reason emerges. See how a desire to flavor Shavuot with a taste of times bygone set “Milky Way” customs into orbit and how to best balance this curious minhag with the Halacha!

Though not the majority opinion, there is an important school of thought that perceives the five days following Shavuot as an organic continuation of the holiday – a curious prolongation of hallowed time not found anywhere else in our Jewish calendar. The source for this unique convention seems rooted in the Talmud, yet its logic seems less than ironclad. The Rebbe provides a fresh and deeply insightful perspective on the essence of Shavuot itself that ultimately sheds illumination and clarity about the unusual expansion of the holiday’s broadened circumference.

A lively discussion of what happened at Mount Sinai when G-d gave the Torah to the Jews. In American Sign Language.

Study the daily lesson of Sefer HaMitzvos for day 52 with Rabbi Mendel Kaplan, where he teaches the mitzvah in-depth with added insight and detail.

Be inspired with these exciting videos on Shavuot and the Giving of the Torah

In this Talmud class we’re onto a Shavuot track with teachings from Tractate Shabbat that narrate the events surrounding the revelation at Sinai.

This text-based class on a Shavuot discourse focuses on our special relationship to G-d that is metaphorically described as a faith-infused “marriage.” It's a Ma'amar (formal Chasidic discourse) that was delivered by the Rebbe in 1988, on a Shabbat afternoon just hours before Shavuot. Based on the final verse in the Haftorah: “I will betroth you to me with Faith,” it provides remarkable insights into what happened at Mount Sinai and why it’s relevant to us today. A powerful, insightful, and timely teaching about the Giving of the Torah that’ll help you better appreciate and prepare for this special holiday.

How do you explain and make the Ten Commandments relevant to children? Watch how Rabbi Manis Friedman explains them in a fresh way so that even a puppet could understand.

Prior to the giving of the Torah, G-d instructs Moses: "Speak to the house of Jacob, and tell the sons of Israel" (Exodus 19:3). The "house of Jacob," our Sages explain, are the women; "the sons of Israel," the men. Explore this special feminine role on five levels of understanding.

Two sages of the Talmud debate whether the Jews actually saw heavenly thunder at the giving of the Torah.

The double miracle at Mount Sinai tells us when to aim upwards and when to bring it down.

With no small measure of guile, Boaz cleverly and strategically throws down the gauntlet: Step up or step aside, he challenges the phantom relative; it’s high time for the real Redeemer to please rise! But, are real estate and matrimony really a match mad

By examining Rashi’s interpretation of the Kohen’s responsibility to safeguard his Kehunah (priesthood), we discover how spiritual health requires appropriate boundaries.

Rifka and Shalom Chilungu share their story of their path to embracing Judaism, their inspiration and challenges, and what it's like to raise their children as a bi-racial couple.

Rabbi Shlomo and Devorah Elkan, the co-directors of Chabad at Oberlin, one of the most progressive campus colleges, speak about their lives, what inspires them, and the challenges of today's youth.

In distress King David song-fully calls out to G-d for rescue, but why is the Psalmist singing when he is in danger?

Are you looking for life, liberty and happiness? Learn secret teachings of our Sages about little known, dangerous, mortality-inducing things to avoid, and the things that require a special plea-for-mercy from G-d! (Talmud tractate Berachot 55a)

Exploring the weekly reading from the Prophets, where we uncover the mystical characteristic of the Kohen by exploring Cain and Abel according to Kabbalah.

The law of the new grain teaches that spiritual growth starts with speaking your body's language and progresses to stimulating your soul.

How many of these important Passover facts do you know?

Judaism divides life into two time zones, "body time” when we're meant to work within the world, and "soul time" when we're meant to transcend the world.

Ch. 2, Mishnah 4-5: Hillel would say: Do not separate yourself from the community. Do not believe in yourself until the day you die. Do not judge your fellow until you have stood in his place. Do not say something that is not readily understood in the bel

A beautiful story about an embarrassed woman in the supermarket teaches us how to love one another.

Our choices, for positive or negative, impact the whole world.

A magnificent forum on tractate Yoma, which teaches about the unique status of the Kohen Gadol and a powerful insight into being Jewish.

A spiritual exploration of the three preconditions for a food item to become ritually impure. The inner dimension of these Temple laws highlights how there is a part of us that is always whole and pure, where nothing – no trauma, no circumstances – can da

A spoken word poem: Dear daughter, it is time to free yourself.

Exuberant prayer can be misguided and we learn this from Rashi's insight into the anatomy of the ear.