Israel - People and Land

Shavuot and Bikurim

* * * Shavuot 5775 is celebrated for one day in Israel (Sunday May 24, 2015) and for two days outside of Israel (Sunday-Monday, May 24-25, 2015).
A message from Rav Cherki: The significance of Bikurim – giving away the first fruits:
It is not explicitly written that the Torah was given on Shavuot, but the Torah does give the holiday as the date for Bikurim – bringing the first fruits to the Temple. Any man who has labored for an entire year  definitely wants to eat the first fruit, but he gives it to somebody else – to a priest in the holy Temple. This act reminds us of King David, who was born and died on Shavuot. David wrote the Five Books of the Psalms as prayer and praise of G-d in response to the Five Books of the Torah, which are the Word of G-d brought down from heaven to mankind.
Note: If you do not see English subtitles in the following film, press the “captions/subtitle” button at the bottom of the youtube movie screen.

Rabbi Oury Cherki

Rav Oury Cherki was born in Algeria in 1959 and grew up in France, and he made Aliyah in 1972. He studied at Merkaz Harav Yeshiva, which was founded by Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook. He performed his military service in the artillery branch of the IDF. He studied with Rav Tzvi Yehuda Kook, Rav Yehuda Leon Ashkenazi (Manitou), Rav Shlomo Binyamin and Achlag. Rav Cherki heads the Israeli department of Machon Meir, and he is the Director of Brit Olam - the Noahide World Center. He teaches in many places throughout Israel. Rav Cherki is the spiritual leader of the "Beth Yehuda" community in Kiryat Moshe (Jerusalem). He has written many books on Jewish thought and philosophy.

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