Shavuot is the underrated indie film of Jewish holidays.
It doesn’t come with matzah crumbs in your bedsheets like Passover. It doesn’t have backyard sukkahs, waving lulavs, or a catchy kid-friendly custom. And unless you grew up in an orthodox community, you probably just knew it as the one where Jews randomly eat cheesecake at midnight.
But here’s the thing: Shavuot is the holiday of Sinai, not dairy treats. Sinai was the defining spark — the cosmic thunderclap — of Jewish existence. The day the Torah entered the scene, we became a people with purpose — not just a wandering tribe with a great escape story.
And yeah, depending on who you ask, it might’ve also been a full-blown mystical experience.
Wait — Was Sinai a Trip? Let’s break this down.
According to the Torah (Exodus 19:16–19), Mount Sinai was basically on fire. There was smoke, thunder, lightning, a shofar blast that kept getting louder for no good reason, and 600,000 people who were probably already exhausted from wandering around the desert and suddenly found themselves witnessing the Divine equivalent of a surround-sound laser light show… minus the LSD.
Shavuot marks the day the Jewish people received the Torah at Mount Sinai. Not just a list of commandments, but the entire framework that would shape Jewish life, ethics, ritual, and identity. It’s the moment that leaving slavery in Egypt was given meaning and the Jews became a people.
This wasn’t just about hearing a Divine voice or being given rules and customs to live by. Shavuot was, and still is today, about accepting responsibility. The Jewish people entered into a covenant — choosing to live with intention, to wrestle with big questions, and to build a society rooted in justice and sacred obligation.
That’s what we’re marking on Shavuot: the beginning of a relationship between a people and their purpose.
Some of the Rabbis say the people saw sounds and heard sights. That’s not a typo. That’s synesthesia — a hallmark of, let’s just say, altered consciousness… the original Tokin’ Jews.
Was it literal? Symbolic? A vision quest before vision quests were cool?
Hard to say. But ask yourself this: if you had to describe the most transcendent, paradigm-shifting moment of your life, would your words even make sense? Probably not. That’s the thing about revelation — it doesn’t always fit neatly into sentences.
Elevation Isn’t Always About Getting High (But It Can Be)
You don’t have to be on anything to experience elevation. Some people reach it through prayer. Or meditation. Or poetry. Or five straight hours of cheesecake-fueled Torah learning at 3am in a sweaty, overcrowded synagogue with a half-broken fan and impatient Jews.
But if cannabis is part of your spiritual practice — or even just your snack-enhanced holiday tradition — Shavuot gives you space to think about it differently. More intentionally.
This holiday isn’t about escape. It’s about revelation. So if you’re going to elevate, do it with intention. Think: less “let’s get lit,” more “what am I opening myself up to right now?”
That’s where studying all night long comes in.
Shavuot isn’t just the anniversary of receiving the Torah — it’s also a reminder that revelation didn’t stop at Sinai. Every year, many Jews around the world have the custom of staying awake all night on Shavuot to study, read, question, and learn. Not as a ritual for ritual’s sake, but because we believe learning is itself a spiritual act.
To study is to listen. To challenge. To grow. The Torah wasn’t given to be frozen in time — it was given to be unpacked, interpreted, argued over, and lived.
So if you’re elevating this Shavuot — with cannabis or just curiosity — make learning part of it. Read something ancient. Read something weird. Ask a question you don’t have an answer to. That’s the real high.
Building a Shavuot Ritual (Even If You Don’t Do All-Nighters)
Let’s be honest. Not everyone wants to stay up all night learning mystical texts from books written in a font that looks like it was invented just to make your eyes bleed. And that’s okay. You can still build a ritual that feels rich, grounded, and yes, elevated.
Here’s how:
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Set the Scene
Find a spot that feels different from your everyday. Maybe it’s your backyard with fairy lights and incense. Maybe it’s a blanket fort in your living room. Maybe it’s a rented cabin with bad Wi-Fi and zero distractions. Make it your Mount Sinai.
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Pick a Theme and Learn
Don’t know where to start learning? Pick something weird and specific.- “What does the Torah say about dreams?”
- “Why do Jews love arguing so much?”
- “Are angels just metaphors?”
- “What does it actually mean to live a meaningful life?”
That last one doesn’t come with an easy answer. Which is exactly why it’s a perfect Shavuot question. Follow the question. That’s very on-brand for Shavuot.
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Gather Your People (or Don’t)
Some of the best Shavuot conversations happen at 1am with people you barely know who somehow get very deep, very fast. Other times, it’s just you, a journal, and the sound of wind outside. Both are holy.
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Eat Something Dairy
We’ll talk snacks in a second. But trust: food is part of the ritual… as always.
But...Why the Cheesecake?
Ah yes. The dairy thing. Is it because the Torah is compared to milk and honey? Or because after Sinai, the Israelites realized they had no clue how to kasher meat, so they went dairy? Who knows the real reason — but we Jews love symbolism. We also love cheese, even though our stomachs may not.
Here’s your starter pack for Shavuot munchies:
- Cheesecake in all forms: Mini. Swirled. Vegan. Burnt Basque. Cheesecake adjacent. If it says “cream cheese,” it counts.
- Blintzes: Crepes that are just pretending to be breakfast. Acceptable at all hours.
- Fancy cheese boards: You’re not in college anymore. Upgrade your brie game.
- Ice cream: Especially at 2am. Especially with sprinkles.
- Vegan alternatives: Almond ricotta, oat milk chocolate chip “cheesecake,” or any snack that says “plant-based” but still tastes like joy.
Pro tip: If you’re partaking in cannabis, start small. That slice of cheesecake will hit different 1 hour after an edible.
So What Now?
Maybe you’ll stay up all night learning. Maybe you’ll make a Shavuot charcuterie board and pass out by midnight. Maybe you’ll light a joint with your friends and talk about the weirdest part of Leviticus.
Whatever you do, do it on purpose. That’s the whole point.
Shavuot isn’t loud. It doesn’t come with costumes or miracles or sea-splitting drama. But it’s the holiday that says: you’re part of something bigger than yourself. Even if you’re just a little bit stoned and very into dairy.
Chag Shavuot Sameach,
Tokin’ Jew 💨✡️