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Shavous

Shavous

9.9
A Jewish holiday that remembers Moses receiving the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai
  • noun
  • /ʃəˈvuːs/
  • UK
translation icon : Shavuot
  • Learning sessions and readings of the Ten Commandments are key parts of Shavous observance.

Examples

  • The synagogue will host special services for Shavous this year.

  • Many families gather together to celebrate Shavous with traditional dairy foods.

  • We celebrate Shavous every year.

  • Is Shavous your favorite holiday?

  • On Shavous, we commemorate the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai.

  • During Shavous, many people enjoy eating cheesecake and other dairy dishes.

  • The community center organizes events to educate about the significance of Shavous.

Synonyms

Shavuot
vsShavous
1 9.9

A Jewish holiday that celebrates God giving the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai

is the same holiday but spelled in another transliteration
Pentecost
vsShavous
1 7.7

A Jewish holy day in early summer when people remember God giving the Ten Commandments to Moses

is the same holy day but provided under a different name
Shavuoth
vsShavous
  • UK
1 9.9

A Jewish holiday that remembers when Moses received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai

is the same festival but spelled without that final h
Shabuoth
vsShavous
9.9

A Jewish festival in late spring that remembers Moses receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai

is the same festival but uses a different consonant choice in spelling
Feast of Weeks
vsShavous
7.6

A Jewish holiday called Shavuot that remembers Moses receiving the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai

is the same observance but expressed as an English descriptive title

Surface Forms

Shavous singular
Shavouses plural

Etymology

Shavous comes from the Hebrew word Shavuot, which means 'weeks' because the holiday comes seven weeks after Passover. It is also called the 'Feast of Weeks' and remembers Moses receiving the Ten Commandments, so the name reminds you that the holiday is counted by weeks and about that important event.