HoliDaYs

Milky Way

Some fun (and some pretty cheesy)
ways to celebrate the holiday.

Elizabeth Applebaum
AppleTree Editor

I

n addition to being a singer,
and imagining himself an actor,
Elvis Presley spent a great deal
of time serving as his own interior

of eating only dairy foods on
Shavuot, citing the Talmudic injunction
that Jewish holidays are to be cele-
brated with meat and wine. Rather
than having complete meals of dairy
food, they said, we should enjoy a
dairy appetizer, followed by an
entree of meat. Although halachically
(by Jewish law) we may eat meat
after dairy (but not the other way
around), most people would find such
a menu too odd, so they either settle
on all dairy or all meat. Some com-
promise and serve fish.
Because there are no special cere-
monies or rituals performed on
Shavuot, its observance over the
decades in America has diminished
until it is probably the least known of
the Jewish holidays. Partly to focus
more attention on Shavuot, because it
is considered the birthday of Judaism,
and also because Shavuot often coin-
cides with the end of the religious
school year, the Reform Movement
instituted the confirmation ceremony
on the holiday.
Some Conservative congregations
also have their school graduations on
Shavuot.

decorator.
Visitors to his home in Memphis, a
popular tourist attraction today, are
invited to admire (if they're Elvis
fans), or just tolerate (if they're not),
his "jungle room." Here, Elvis him-
self selected zebra-like fabrics and
other wild, wild furniture and textiles
he hoped would make any visitor to
Graceland feel like he had just
stepped into the jungles of the
remote depths of Africa.
Now you may be wondering
exactly what Elvis has to do with
Shavuot.
Good question.
Here's the answer.
a man who actually
If Elvis
thought jewel-encrusted jumpsuits
were tasteful — could turn a room
in Tennessee into a jungle, imagine

—

what your family could do to a
room in your home on Shavuot?
Synagogues and temples every-
where are covered in lush green on
Shavuot. Why not do the same in
your house? Gather everything
green (blankets, rugs, plants, bal-
loons, streamers) and make a
favorite spot as green as you dare!
Also, invite children to draw pic-
tures showing flowers and trees,
and hang these everywhere. It will

be fun!
After your special Shavuot room is
ready, here are a few more family
projects for the holiday:

#1) Since Shavuot is the dairy
holiday, have everyone in the
family learn about one different
kind of cheese. Then bring lots of
samples to the dinner table and
serve with crackers as an appetiz-
er. (You also can find library
books on making your own
cheese, but be prepared: This
can take a lot of time and it's a
rather complicated process.)
#2) Ruth is one of the most intrigu-
ing characters in Jewish history.
Learn what you can about her from
the Torah and other resource materi-
al, then share what you discovered
with family members.
#3) Among the nicest abilities
you'll find in children is their skill
at imagining. Rather than actually
have them stay up until midnight
(do this, and you risk your own
sanity...), ask them to look into
the night sky at around 9 p.m.
and imagine what seeing the
whole universe would be like. If
it's a clear night, take a blanket
outside and look deep into the
heavens. Seeing the world this
way can feel like experiencing a

miracle.
#4) Prior to the holiday, ask chil-
dren to make their own version of a
Mount Sinai. They'll have quite an
adventure if you allow them to mix
baking soda, vinegar and a drop
of food coloring (watch out — this
is messy!), or maybe you'd prefer a
mountain of sand or pillows piled
high on the bed.
#5) As we celebrate this holiday
of when Jews received the Torah
from God, ask each family member
to discuss a Torah story, or verse, or

mitzvah (commandment) that he or

she feels is especially important or
intriguing.
#6) Invite your guests to make
and bring a favorite cheesecake
recipe. But first, gift everyone with
an antique apron, which you can
find these at almost any local
antique shop, or a homemade one
(plain, white aprons are available
at local craft shops. Decorate with
paints or permanent markers).
#7) Make decorations for the holi-
day. Cut out small Stars of David
and Torah scrolls and place them
throughout the house. To make a
game, hide these and have the win-
ner receive a small treat.
#8) Did you know that ice cream
is the No. 1 favorite dessert in the
United States? Why not get lots of
great supplies and have friends and
family over for an ice-cream party
for Shavuot? In addition to sprin-
kles, chocolate sauce, cherries, nuts
and whipped cream, consider
some off-beat toppings, such as
mango slices, cinnamon-candy bits,
broken-up candy bars and marsh-

mallows.

#9) Shavuot means "weeks" in
Hebrew. How many other holidays
using a "time" word can you identi-
y? How about Yom Kippur (yom is

"day"), and Rosh Chodesh
(chodesh is "month")?
#10) What better way to cele-
brate a dairy holiday than by recall-
ing all the cheesy stuff you can think
of? Have everyone make a list of
the sappiest and hokiest movies,
books, sayings, TV programs he or
she can imagine, then read them all
for a great laugh! ❑

5/14
1999

Detroit Jewish News

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