Harvest thanksgiving celebrations at All Saints Bingley on September 23 will have a Jewish theme as the congregation celebrate Shavuot style.
Harvest thanksgiving celebrations at All Saints Bingley on September 23 will have a Jewish theme as the congregation celebrate Shavuot style.
In Biblical times, Shavuot was when Jewish people harvested their wheat crop and began to harvest their fruit crops, and would then bring the first fruits - or bikkurim - to the Temple in Jerusalem in thanks to God.
On Shavuot, Jews decorate their synagogues and homes with greenery, flowers and fruits - to remind them of the day the Jewish people received the Torah and Mount Sinai bloomed with flowers as well as being a reminder of the harvest.
Priest-in-charge Beverley Mason said: “Harvest is so important and the heritage of harvest is rich. We have become disconnected from our Jewish roots and Shavuot is very much a harvest thanksgiving associated with Moses on Mount Sinai receiving the law. It is exciting and rich in theology.
“At Shavuot we shall be eating some of the traditional Shavuot food such as cheesecake, cheese filled pancakes with blintzes and quiches. We may also bake tall cakes to remind us of how tall Mount Sinai was and we'll have fruit, in particular the seven species of Eretz Israel, including figs, pomegranates and dates.
“Join us as we offer our thanksgiving for the harvest and celebrate this festival in song, story, dance, shelter building and feasting.”
The celebrations begin with Sung Eucharist and continue in the church grounds after the service.
The preacher is Daniel Nessim from the Chosen People Ministries.
Find out more on the All Saints website.