By Debbie Schlussel

Tonight at sundown is the beginning of the Jewish Sabbath, but when it ends at nightfall, Saturday Night, the Jewish holiday of Shavuot [“Shah-Voo-Oat”]–also called, Shavuos–begins until Monday Night. So, while we will all be observing Memorial Day and our brave soldiers who gave their lives in service to America, I will also be celebrating the Jewish holiday and have prepared my Memorial Day posting in advance.

Shavuot is the Jewish “Festival of Weeks.” It is also referred to as “Pentecost,” not to be confused with the Christian “Pentecost.” It is one of the three Jewish harvest festivals, and it is the holiday on which we read the Book of Ruth, about the woman who is probably the most famous convert to Judaism.

To my Jewish friends and readers, Chag Shavuot Sameach [a Happy Shavuot Holiday]. To everyone else, the holiday is a celebration of G-d giving the Torah and the Ten Commandments to the Jewish people. On the holiday, men traditionally stay up all night, the first night, in Bible (Torah) study, and we eat dairy foods. As I’ve noted previously, women can also stay up all night, and some liberal Jewish women do. But since we’re not obligated and I’m not a feminist, I take (and enjoy) my non-obligations as a chick very seriously. It pays not to be a feminist. And this is just one more of the many ways.

To learn more about the holiday, go here and here.

My movie reviews will be up shortly, and you can stay tuned to my Memorial Day tribute to our fallen heroes.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, as I will be remembering them on Monday. Come back in a few for my movie reviews and, later, my Memorial Day commentary.