Shavuot commemorates the giving of Torah and the commandments at Mt Sinai. We celebrate with Torah, with study, and with eating delicious dairy (or dairy-like) products. Shavuot is celebrated seven weeks after Pesach/Passover (counted by the Omer), representing the transition from an enslaved people to a free people and the responsibilities that come with freedom.
Blessed are you,
Adonai our God.
Sovereign of the world,
who sanctified us with mitzvot
and commanded us to count the Omer.
Baruch atah Adonai,
Eloheinu Melech ha’Olam
asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav
v’tizivanu al sefirat ha’omer.
After the blessing, one recites the appropriate day of the count. For example:
Hayom yom echad la’omer
Today is the first day of the omer.
After the first six days, one also includes the number of weeks that one has counted. For example:
Hayom sh’losha asar yom, she’hem shavuah echad v’shisha yamim la’omer
