Jars for flowers and wheat - Shavuot Decorations.

Aseret ha-Devarim mobile for Shavuot

In the Torah, the so known as the Ten Commandements they are called Aseret ha-Devarim.  In rabbinical texts, they are referred to as Aseret ha-Dibrot. The words d'varim and dibrot come from the Hebrew root Dalet-Beit-Reish, meaning word, speak or thing; thus, the phrase is accurately translated as the Ten Sayings, the Ten Statements, the Ten Declarations, the Ten Words or even the Ten Things, but not as the Ten Commandments, which would be Aseret ha-Mitzvot. 
Judaism teaches that the first tablet, containing the first five declarations, identifies duties regarding our relationship with G-d, while the second tablet, containing the last five declarations, identifies duties regarding our relationship with other people.  

Pop sticks Ten Words mobile

 

Shavuot table decoration - Crochet decorated placemats

Shavuot decorations - crochet flowers

For years, I never made the connection between the customary Shavuot decorations of flowers and any deeper feeling these decorations were supposed to engender.
As an agricultural holiday, Shavuot has always been linked to plant life. In particular, the baskets used to transport first fruits to the Temple were adorned with flowers and leaves. According to another explanation for the decorative scheme, the greens recall Sinai itself. The fact that the Israelites were warned not to allow their livestock to graze near the mountain (Shemot 19:12-13) indicates there was a grassy oasis at its base. The greens serve as vibrant reminders that Torah is “a tree of life to those who hold fast to it” (Proverbs 3:18).

The Omer - Shavuot, Hag ha'Bikkurim

An omer is a unit of measure. On the second day of Passover, in the days of the Temple, an omer of barley was cut down and brought to the Temple as an offering. This grain offering was referred to as the Omer. 

 

Lag b'Omer bonfire

Lag BaOmer, the 33rd day of the Omer count (this year, May 26, 2016) is a festive day on the Jewish calendar. It is celebrated with outings (on which the children traditionally play with bows and arrows), bonfires, and other joyous events. Many visit the resting place (in Meron, northern Israel) of the great sage and mystic Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, the anniversary of whose passing is on this day.
t is traditional to light bonfires on Lag BaOmer eve. These commemorate the immense light that Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai introduced into the world via his mystical teachings. This was especially true on the day of his passing, Lag BaOmer, when he revealed to his disciples secrets of the Torah whose profundity and intensity the world had yet to experience. 
Lag b'Omer this year bonfire craft diorama...

Sefirat haOmer - 17th day of the Omer

Between the holidays of Passover and Shavuot, the Omer is counted each evening, signifying our preparation for the receiving of the Torah on the holiday of Shavuot.

Forgot to count the Omer at night? Count the following day, but without a blessing. On subsequent nights, continue counting with a blessing as usual.The blessing is made only if every day has been counted; if you missed a day, say the day's count without the blessing. 

crossing the sea pupppets

...."Moshè stretched his arm over the sea, and Hashem sent a strong east wind that blew all night until there was dry land where the water had been. The sea opened up,  and the Israelites walked through on dry land with a wall of water on each side."... (Shemot 21)

PESACH SAMEACH!

Bedikat Chametz

10 plagues placeholders for Pesach Seder

Matzot placeholders for Pesach Seder

The three matzot that are placed on the Seder plate are referred to as Kohen, Levi, and Yisrael as a means of distinguishing them from each other.
The top matzah is referred to as Kohen, for the Kohen takes precedence in all matters.
The middle matzah Levi is broken into two at the beginning of the Seder. The smaller piece is left on the plate and is later eaten along with the Kohen matzah in fulfillment of the mitzvah of matzah; the larger piece is put away for use as the afikoman.
The bottom matzah, Yisrael is used for korech, so that every one of the matzot is used for the performance of a mitzvah.
On Shabbat and Festivals we say the blessing for bread over two loaves or matzot. Why then, on this night, do we require three Matzah is known as "the bread of poverty." A poor man, fearful lest he will have no more, guards his bread carefully. He does not eat it all at once but divides it, laying part aside for the morrow. The honor given to the Festival and to Shabbat [for often the two coincide] demands that we use two whole matzot over which we recite the haMotzi blessing "Who brings forth bread from the earth" before beginning the meal. For the blessing, "Who has commanded us to eat matzot," we use only a piece of a whole one to symbolize "the bread of poverty."

Paper frog decoration for Pesach

The 10 Plagues Passover mobile and wine markes

Pharaoh still refuses to let the Jews go. Moshè warns him that G‑d will smite Egypt. Pharaoh remains impervious. G‑d begins to send a series of plagues upon the Egyptians.
1) Aaron strikes the Nile, the waters turn to blood;
2) Swarms of frogs overrun the land;
3) Lice infest all men and beasts. Still, Pharaoh remains stubborn;
4) Hordes of wild animals invade the cities,
5) a pestilence kills the domestic animals,
6) painful boils afflict the Egyptians.
7) Fire and ice combine to descend from the skies as a devastating hail
8) a swarm of locusts devours all the crops and greenery;
9) a thick, palpable darkness envelops the land.
10) all the firstborn of Egypt are killed at the stroke of midnight of the 15th of the month of Nissan.

Makkot - 10 plagues mobile

10 plagues wine markers

Each wine glass marker depicts one of the Ten Plagues recited during the Passover Seder. Each guest may have his or her own glass adorned in a unique and unusual way. Will they be boils or wild beasts, frogs or hail? These wine markers will be the talk of the table. They also make the perfect Seder hostess gift! 

Pesach cross stich embroidered Afikoman bag

The Afikomen is a piece of matzah that is traditionally hidden during the Passover seder.
Breaking the Matzah and Hiding the Afikomen
There are three pieces of matzah used during a Passover seder. During the fourth part of the Seder (called Yachatz) the leader will break the middle of these three pieces in two. The smaller piece is returned to the Seder table and the larger piece is set aside in a napkin or bag. This larger piece is called the "afikomen," a word that comes from the Greek word for "dessert." It is so called not because it is sweet, but because it is the last item of food eaten at the Seder.
Traditionally, after the afikomen is broken, it is hidden. Depending on the family, either the Seder leader hides the afikomen during the meal or the children at the table "steal" the afikomen and hide it. Either way, the Seder cannot be concluded until the afikomen is found and returned to the table so each guest can eat a piece of it.
If the Seder leader hid the afikomen the children at the table must search for it and bring it back. They receive a reward (usually candy, money, or a small gift) when they bring it back to the table. Likewise, if the children "stole" the afikomen the Seder leader ransoms it back from them with a reward so that the Seder can continue.
The practice of hiding the afikomen was instituted during the Middle Ages by Jewish families to make the Seder more entertaining and exciting for children (who can become antsy when sitting through a long ritual meal).

 Handmade cross stich embroide Afikomen bag

A favorite part of the Passover seder for children is finding the afikoman (a large piece of a matzah that is hidden during the Seder). Children search for the afikoman and usually receive a prize for finding it.