Notes from Cantor Avima

Shavuoth was originally an agricultural  festival, marking the start of the wheat harvest.  In the Torah, the festival is referred to as "Chag haBikurim", the festival of first fruits in the book of Numbers, "Chag haKatzir", the festival of the harvest in the book of Exodus and "Chag haShavuoth", the festival of weeks also in the book of Exodus and Deuteronomy. . The identification of Shavuoth as "Z'man Matan Torateinu" doesn't happen until a bit later in our history, perhaps during the time of the second Temple period. 

There are two songs from my childhood that I most associate with the festival of Shavuoth. They are very popular folksongs in Israel. The first is "Saleinu Al K'tehfaynu" (Baskets on our Shoulders) which describes the ritual of bringing the first fruits to the Temple. The second is "Shiboleth Basadeh" (An Ear of Grain in the Field). Both songs evoke the early pioneering spirit of the Halutzim. The links for and the English translations for both songs are below. 

Saleinu Al K'teh-fay-nu

Laden baskets on our shoulders, Floral circlets round our heads
From land’s ends we come, First fruits to bear in .
From Judea and Samaria, From the Emek and Galilee.
Clear a path for us, First fruits we bear
Beat the drum, blow the flute!

Our fields and gardens, Brought forth their yield,
Our vineyards and our toil -Their harvests plentiful:
Of figs, apples,Grapes and almonds.
Clear a path for us, First fruits we bear
Beat the drum, blow the flute!

Shiboleth BaSadeh

Ear of grain in the field, bowed in the wind
From the weight of its seed, which is great.

And in the expanse of the mountains, The day already rises.The sun is fine gold.

Arise, oh arise, Look, sons of the village.
The tall grain has already ripened in the meadows.
Harvest, extend the scythe - It's time for the beginning of the harvest.

A pure field of barley Is crowned with a holiday wreath,
An abundance of produce and blessing.

Just before the coming of the harvesters, With shining brilliance, Silently, it waits for the sheaf.

Come, brandish (the scythe) Plow for yourselves the broken-up field.
It's a holiday for the standing grain, The time of the beginning of the harvest.
Harvest, extend the scythe -It's time for the beginning of the harvest.