Shavuot (weeks), also known as Pentecost (the 50th day), is held at the end of 49 day (7 week) period of Omer. Among Orthodox and Conservative Jews Shavuot is a two day holiday which is observed on the 6th and 7th days of Sivan (May-June). Israelis and Reform Jews, however, only celebrate Shavuot on the 6th.

Traditionally, Shavuot marked the beginning of the wheat harvest. During the Temple period, Jews would make an offering of two loaves of wheat bread to God on this day. Beginning in the second century, however, Shavuot was transformed into a historic festival to commemorate the anniversary of the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. This process of transforming agricultural festivals into holidays commemorating important historical events was common during this period and was not limited to Shavuot. Sukkot, for example, is observed both as an agricultural festival and in commemoration of the period when the Jews wandered through the desert and lived in sukkot (booths).

In the observance of Shavuot, specific scriptures are read in the synagogue. On the first day of Shavuot Exodus 19:1-20:26, which recounts the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai, is read from the Torah while Ezekiel 1-2 makes up the Haftarah. Habakkuk's prayer is the Haftarah for the second day. The Book of Ruth is also read during Shavuot. Scholars have put forth many reasons for why the Book of Ruth is read on this holiday. One of them is that the events which took place in this biblical text are believed to have taken place around Shavuot.

Specific customs have developed surrounding the observance of Shavuot. Some individuals, for example, eat dairy products on this holiday since the Torah is often compared to milk. In addition, it is customary in some communities to decorate the synagogue with trees and flowers. The flowers symbolize the belief that Mount Sinai was a green mountain while the trees symbolize the idea that Shavuot (at least during the Temple period) was the "judgment day" for agricultural products.

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