I was talking to my freind Leo this afternoon and he reminded me that tonight Is Shuvuot (שבועות‎) the Festival of Weeks… . It is when Jews mark the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai . There are some cool and crazy customs around Shuvot.. My favorite one..  is that you are supposed to take of work.. and goof off.. (if praying in the synagogue can be called goofing off) You’re supposed to eat rich dairy foods like cheesecake and blintzes .. and ‘make merry’.  to celebrate the gift of Torah. . And you read he book of Ruth . What’s not to like ?

My favorite custom is that you’re supposed to stay up all night and study Torah.. I remember this because last time I actually even partially observed Shuvout was at the Continental Club in Austin Texas sometime in the late 90’s.. I was with my good buddy Brian .. we’d gone to see a feind of his play. We were listening to a bluegrass  klezmer band  (yes.. thats right ) i like called ‘The Bad Livers‘ ..At some point I realized that most of the folks in the club were jewish.. and one of them shouted ‘It’s Shuvout’ Party all night.. so we did (allmost)

Celebrate the book Ya’ll ! Study all night !

nite all, nite sam

-me