Size Doesn't Matter--Why Shavuot is Short

Ilana Techer, from the yellow (Regalim) team, asks:

Why is Shavuot so short compared with Pesach and Sukkot? This is especially puzzling since Shavuot celebrates our getting the Torah.

In the style of the Gemara, let me deal with the second question first. Shavuot actually does not celebrate Matan Torah. We do not know the exact date of Matan Torah, as it is not explicitly mentioned in the Chumash. What we do know is the Bnei Yisrael arrived at Har Sinai on Rosh Chodesh Sivan (see Shmot 19:1) and that Moshe went up on the mountain to speak with Hashem. There is a debate in the Gemara as to how many times Moshe went up and down, and whether each time he went up it was a separate day. Furthermore, Hashem tells Bnai Yisrael to prepare for "three days" and to be prepared for "the third day" (see Shmot 19). It therefore emerges that Matan Torah could have been the 5th or 6th of Sivan. Then it seems that Moshe added another day of his own; thus, Matan Torah was either the 6th or the 7th of Sivan. It is never explicitly mentioned. (Why this is so is a separate topic.)

Shavuot, on the other hand, is clearly the 50th day after the first day of Pesach (see Vayikra 23:15). In the Torah, Shavuot is a harvest festival, culminating the period when the an Omer (specified measurement) is waved and a Karban Omer is brought. It signifies the end of the spring harvest and it is celebrated as Mikra Kodesh (no m'lacha), with the regulatory karbanot. In addition, Bikurim, the first and choicest "fruits" of the harvest, are brought to the Kohen, who recites a special t'filla over them. We celebrate Shavuot to thank Hashem for a successful harvest and to publicly proclaim our dependence on Him for our survival. There are many parallels between Sukkot and Shavuot, as well as between Pesach and Shavuot. Some opinions see Shavuot as the culmination of Pesach. Some see Shmini Atzeret and Shavuot (also called Atzeret) as parallel.

There may be a practical reason why Shavuot is only one day: it is the middle of the busy spring/early summer harvesting and plowing seasons. The barley harvest is done and the wheat is being planted. Pesach is at the end of the winter, and Sukkot is at the end of the harvest. In both cases, we have the seven days to celebrate. Hashem is careful with the kavod of His nation, so Shavuot is only one day.

Finally, we know that in the Torah, size doesn't matter. It is quality rather than quantity that matters. A one day chag is not less kadosh that a seven day chag.

Go Regalim! (And Shabbat and Yamim Noraim!)

Mrs. Herzog