ORANJESTAD – Shavuot — this year beginning at sunset on Thursday, May 25 and concluding at nightfall on Saturday, May 27, 2023 — will be celebrated by Aruba’s Jewish community, who will gather to hear the reading of the Ten Commandments from a handwritten Torah scroll and enjoy dairy foods.
Shavuot marks the anniversary of and celebrates the Jewish People receiving the Ten Commandments and the Torah from G-d at Mount Sinai, 3,335 years ago.
The central observance of the holiday will be marked in a community-wide gathering with Chabad of Aruba holding a family-friendly reading of the Ten Commandments on the afternoon of Friday, May 26th at 11:00am at the Chabad house, Salina Cerca 31C, followed by a delicious dairy lunch.
Chabad Aruba is also welcoming the community to Chabad house Shul for the Yizkor memorial prayer (a special memorial prayer for the departed) on Saturday, May 27 11:00am.
This year’s Shavuot celebrations have added significance as Jewish communities worldwide celebrate the “Year of Hakhel” or Gathering, marked with gatherings focused on Jewish unity, Torah learning and practice.
“Shavuot is the time when the Jewish People received the Torah together at Mt. Sinai as “one human with one heart”, so it’s fitting that Aruba’s Jewish community will gather to commemorate this day,”said Rabbi Ahron Blasberg, who directs Chabad Aruba. “During the Year of Hakhel, this show of unity to hear the Torah reading is more meaningful than ever.”
The reading of the Ten Commandments has become a family tradition around the world at the urging of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, the most influential rabbi in modern history, who explained that there is special significance to bringing children, even infants, to hear the Ten Commandments on Shavuot morning: “By listening to the Ten Commandments on Shavuot morning,” the Rebbe explained, “the words of Torah will be engraved in the hearts and minds of the children. And through them, the Torah will be etched within their parents and grandparents with even greater intensity.”
About Chabad Aruba
Chabad Aruba offers Jewish education, outreach and social service programming for families and individuals of all ages, backgrounds and affiliations. For more information about Chabad Aruba, contact Rabbi Ahron Blasberg at Rabbi@JewishAruba.com or visit online at www.JewishAruba.com
