On May 19 and 20 we celebrate the holiday of Shavuot (one day in Israel). Why do Jews eat dairy on Shavuot? For standard answers see seven reasons behind this popular custom.
However, customs vary. For example, a friend writes that her Hungarian grandfather ate the blintzes her grandmother made then they waited a bit and had a meat meal. That’s basically how one brother-in-law handles the holiday. My vegan friends are eating neither dairy nor meat. For myself, I will limit the amount of dairy I eat, as my body just doesn’t do well with dairy (I am lactose-intolerant and beyond).
On Facebook, I asked: “Looking for funny, historical, hysterical or creative reasons why Jews eat dairy on Shavuot.” Some of the responses:
- You’re milking this for all it’s worth. We’d butter not fool around. (She also came up with the title of this post).
- A naturalist answer: It’s approximately the time when goats wean their kids and the mothers have additional milk that’s not being used otherwise.
- Because you may go to a shiur where real ice cream is served. There ought to be one Jewish holiday in honor of cheesecake.
- From a vegetarian: You meat-eaters get ALL the holidays. It’s OUR TURN, people. 🙂
- What kind of world would it be if we didn’t have license to eat cheesecake guilt-free at least once a year?!
I’ll conclude with a joke:
Upon Mt. Sinai, Moses is receiving the Torah.
God proclaims through the burning bush “THOU SHALT NOT SEETHE THE KID IN ITS MOTHER’S MILK.”
Moses is a bit confused. “What does that mean, Lord? We should not cook meat in milk?”
God repeats “THOU SHALT NOT SEETHE THE KID IN ITS MOTHER’S MILK.”
Moses responds “But what do you mean, Lord? We should never serve meat and dairy in the same meal?”
Again, God repeats “THOU SHALT NOT SEETHE THE KID IN ITS MOTHER’S MILK.”
Moses continues “Do you mean that we should have two completely separate sets of ovens and cookware? One for meat and one for milk?”
Finally God agrees, “OK, Moses, have it your way.”
One more joke:
Elijah the Prophet resurfaces on Planet Earth in New York City right before Chanukah. He gets very excited when he sees Chanukah decorations, Chanukah parties and Chanukah cards and hears Chanukah music. He declares: if this is what Jews do for Chanukah, I can only imagine what they do for Shavuot!
Kosher Cookers: submit those food-related posts ASAP! Kosher Carnival deadline is this Thursday.
I love the first reason…quite funny.
Cute jokes.
Oh, and your water color is lovely, tempting me to run out and get the fixings, for immediate gratification.
Instead, take your paintbrushes (or your camera) and create. Unless you really need that sundae…
great post!!! love this. (and that quote from the vegetarian was very wise… 🙂
Thanks for your help in its creation, Phyllis!
That second joke is fantastic!!!
Everything is great about this post: the title, the painting and the quotes. I love the quote about indulging in cheesecake.
Oy to your jokes!!
«Louis» likes humor in this post – especially the title!
If the Jews do make a holiday for cheesecake, «Louis» might just convert!
«Louis» enjoyed reading the seven reasons and particularly liked #2.
Reason #2 is “Torah is likened to milk, as the verse says, “Like honey and milk [the Torah] lies under your tongue” (Song of Songs 4:11). Just as milk has the ability to fully sustain the body of a human being (i.e. a nursing baby), so too the Torah provides all the “spiritual nourishment” necessary for the human soul.”
The Moses joke has always been a favorite with me. In telling it out loud, I really like to drag it out with a few more things (You mean separate towels to wipe dairy and meat dishes, etc). As to the Elijah joke, it’s a new one to me–but to give special resonance, the same Hungarian grandpa who ate blintzes and then meat also told his kids (my mom included) that Chanukah gifts came from Elijah–sort of a Jewish Santa. I have no idea if that was his attempt to deal with Xmas in America or if there is a real tradition for that.
Creative to combined your art, your humor and your writing..all of which are very good…
Can I copy your idea and have my students paint bowls of ice cream? They’d love that!
Of course! They will love it.
Today I printed out a copy of your painting and the kids did their own versions. One girl made wall paper with little cherries. So cute. They really loved it!
Thanks for the idea. That’s going on my regular curriculum.
Glad I could inspire you. For me, it was easier and less upsetting on my stomach to paint a ice cream sundae than to eat one. And more pleasurable, in some ways.
I got my “models” from Google images. Plenty of ice cream illustrations or photos.
excellent post! love the lesson, love the humor, love the “contributors!” well done! 🙂