Why I Drink Beer On Shavuot

Tonight Jews around the world celebrate the holiday of Shavuot, the Summer Solstice Harvest Festival and anniversary of the giving of the Torah. So why do I drink beer?

While conducting some research on Shavuot a few years back, I came across an important footnote in the Netei Gavriel, a encyclopedic series of books on Jewish laws and customs. The Netei Gavriel, amid discussions of customs and practices around Shavuot — eating dairy food, decorating the shul with plants, flowers and grass etc. — mentions the custom of having a keg of beer at synagogue for Shavuot. Yes, a keg of beer.

Let me explain.

The Jewish people had left Egypt, and traversed the desert, and were encamped at the base of Mt. Sinai in the stark harshness of the desert. There, at the base of the mountain, they encountered God. According to tradition, this is when we received the Torah.

One of the stories from the Midrash about the giving of the Torah relates how the Jewish people decided to accept the Torah. It was, as ” title=”mini “draughtkegs” for about $20″ target=”_blank”>mini “draughtkegs” for about $20. No need to worry about deposits and taps, these small kegs have enough beer to make a bunch of people happy.

After a few years with the smaller keg, I decided to go for an upgrade last year. We will have a 15 gallon keg of cold, fresh, locally produced, artisinal beer at our Shavuot program.

And while drinking your beer this Shavuot, remember the important words of Benjamin Franklin, “Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.”

L’Chaim, success and joy in your learning, Gut Yontef and Chag Sameach!
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Yonah Bookstein, a leading voice of the Next Generation of American Jewry, is an internationally recognized expert in Jewish innovation, founder of “>JConnectLA. Follow him on Twitter