Shavuot Festival Conference

Shavuot Messianic Conference and Festival (Feast of Weeks / Pentecost) 05/22-23/2010

Conference Pricing: Adult - $45.00, Children 4-11 - $35.00 - Price includes a lunch buffet.

Zion Event Registration Click Here

In Bible Days

During the days of the Bible writers, all conferences were held during the moadim (Appointed Times of YHWH). That was when the people of Israel moved en masse to Jerusalem in honor of the commanded assemblies.

Three times during the year* we join together to honor the commanded assemblies; Passover, Shavuot and Tabernacles.

We are not to come before YHWH empty handed**. In other words we are to bring a generous offering to HIM at the time of his commanded assemblies.

The feast of Shavuot (weeks) is known by several names. Pentecost (Gr. count fifty) Bikkurim (Firstfruits) HaAsif (Ingathering).

* Ex 23:14-17
14 “Three times a year, you are to observe a festival for me. 15 Keep the festival of matzah: for seven days, as I ordered you, you are to eat matzah at the time determined in the month of Aviv; for it was in that month that you left Egypt. No one is to appear before me empty-handed. 16 Next, the festival of harvest, the firstfruits of your efforts sowing in the field; and last, the festival of ingathering, at the end of the year, when you gather in from the fields the results of your efforts. 17 Three times a year all your men are to appear before the Lord, Adonai.
CJB

The date for observing Shavuot is set by counting from the feast of Matzot or unleavened bread . There are two different ways of counting the feast in the Torah. This has always been a point of dispute as can be seen in Talmud***

Under the simple instructions of the Torah we are to count fifty days, seven Shabatot or Sabbaths and the day following is the fiftieth day when the bikkurim or first fruits were offered in the temple. Using this instruction we conclude that the feast of Shavuot should always be observed on the first day of the week, the day following the seventh Sabbath.

The other way of perceiving the command is to count seven "sabbaths of days" which always brings us to the exact same day of the month. Using the Rabbinic method of counting Shavuot always falls on the sixth day of Sivan in the Hebrew calendar. Using this method Shavuot rarely falls on the first day of the week.

There are two blessings for matzos. The first is thanking YHWH for bringing fourth bread from the earth and the second is for commanding us to eat matzos for seven days.

You can learn more in the Yeshiva Seasonal Training section--Shavuot.

** Deut 16:16-17
“Three times a year all your men are to appear in the presence of Adonai your God in the place which he will choose — at the festival of matzah, at the festival of Shavu‘ot and at the festival of Sukkot. They are not to show up before Adonai empty-handed,
CJB

*** Talmud Manachoth 65a

‘From the eighth of the same until the close of the Festival [of Passover], during which time the date for the Feast of Weeks was re-established, fasting is forbidden’. For the Boethusians held that the Feast of Weeks19 must always be on the day after the Sabbath.20

(19) Azereth, lit., ‘the closing’; the Feast of Weeks being regarded as the closing festival to Passover.
(20) l.e., on a Sunday, at the completion of seven full weeks from the offering of the ‘Omer which, according to them, was offered on a Sunday.

Information on the Temple practices of Shavuot are difficult to locate in Mishnah**** and Talmud. In the six volumes of the Mishanoth it should fall in the order of Moadim after or in the tractate Pesach. Shavuot is actually considered to be the close of Passover and days of unleavened bread. Although there is no clear reference to Shavuot in the order Moadim there are references to it scattered around other orders of the Mishnah.

The sacrifices at Shavuot consisted of regular sacrifices and an unusual mincha (grain offering). At all other times the grain offerings in the form of bread or cakes were to be unleavened. However at Shavuot we are required to offer the mincha with chametz (leavened or soured dough).

 **** MISHNAH. THEY REAPED IT, PUT IT INTO THE BASKETS, AND BROUGHT IT TO THE TEMPLE COURT; THEN THEY PARCHED IT21 WITH FIRE IN ORDER TO FULFIL THE PRECEPT THAT IT SHOULD BE PARCHED [WITH FIRE].22 SO R. MEIR. BUT THE SAGES SAY, THEY FIRST BEAT IT WITH REEDS OR STEMS OF PLANTS THAT THE GRAINS SHOULD NOT BE CRUSHED,23 AND THEN THEY PUT IT INTO A PIPE THAT WAS PERFORATED SO THAT THE FIRE MIGHT TAKE HOLD OF ALL OF IT. THEY SPREAD IT OUT IN THE TEMPLE COURT SO THAT THE WIND MIGHT BLOW OVER IT.24 THEN THEY PUT IT INTO A GRISTMILL25 AND TOOK OUT OF IT A TENTH [OF AN EPHAH OF FLOUR] WHICH WAS SIFTED THROUGH THIRTEEN SIEVES.

(21) The whole ears of corn.
(22) Lev. II, 14.
(23) It was not threshed in the usual manner with flails as these would bruise the fresh and tender corn.
(24) In order to dry it.
(25) Which grinds very coarsely so that only the husk is separated from the grain.


Conference 05/22-23/2010

It is too late to register and partake in the luncheon but if you want to come share in Shavuot we will have some space remaining. Unregistered guests can participate but will not be able to enjoy our luncheon.

Unregistered guests are expected to make a $25.00 donation per person at the door.

Housing and transportation are on your own. There is a hotel walking distance to the conference center and we can get excellent prices from them as part of the package for those needing to spend the night in Austin. See below for more information.

We have an exciting schedule of speakers and more will be announced.

  • The Giving of Torah - Rabbi Hall
  • The Hebrew Alef Bet - Naomi Hamilton
  • Torah and the New Covenant - Rabbi Richard Kennedy
  • Shavuot Mysteries - Rabbi Fran Horan
  • Chanting the Torah - John Mounce
  • Sabbath Foods - Patricia Dittmar
  • Davidic Dance 1 - Karen Acheson and Gloria Mendoza

Ted Pearce - Live In Concert 6:00pm

Ted Pearce will be closing out our conference with a live concert at 6:00pm. A love offering will be received for his ministry.

05/22/2010 Shabbat morning and Erev Shavuot services:

Emanuel United Methodist Church
200 Brushy Street, Austin, Texas

  • 10:00am Morning Class by Rabbi Hall
  • 11:00am Shabbat Morning Service
  • 1:00pm break for lunch
  • 3:00pm
    • Hebrew 1
    • Israeli/Davidic Worship Dance Class
  • 4:30pm Chanting the Torah
  • 6:00pm Dinner on your own
  • 7:00pm Concert Pending confirmation

05/23/2010, the Shavuot morning service starts at 9:00AM at:

Norris Conference Center
2525 West Anderson Lane
(behind Northcross Mall)

 

 

Hotel Accomodations

We have special rates at:

Hotel Allendale
7685 Northcross Drive
Austin, Texas 78757

800-851-9111 or 512-452-9391

Tell them you are with the Zion Conference.

  • $  99.00 Single Room Rate
  • $129.00 Two room Suite.
  • $179.00 Three Room Suite.

Room reservations must be made with the Hotel Allendale. You can call them at the numbers to the left.

To register for the Shavuot Conference
Click Here