Where is the section called, "Hilchot Shavuot" in the Shulchan Aruch? In fact, Hilchot Shavuot does not appear, because Shavuot does not have its own section in the Shulchan Aruch. Instead, the last chapter of Hilchot Pesach is called, "Seder Tefillat Chag HaShavuot", and it contains just 3 short sentences. The Shuchan Aruch simply lists the order of davening for Shavuot, and which Torah portions are read, and the prohibition of fasting on the Yom Tov.

 

What is obvious is the lack of any specific Halachot for Shavuot. There is no Matzah, no sitting in a Succah, no shaking a Lulav, and no blowing of the Shofar. There is nothing that marks Shavuot as a unique Yom Tov from the Halachic prospective of the Shulchan Aruch. The Rama adds some Shavuot customs but not Halachot. The customs that he mentions is putting out plants in the Shuls and houses and eating dairy foods. Even staying up all night on Shavuot is only a custom but not Halacha.

 

What is responsible for this odd situation on Shavuot? Where are the missing Mitzvot of Shavuot? The Shtei HaLechem and Bikurim were ONLY brought during the time of the Beit HaMikdash. Why are there so many Minhagim on Shavuot? What makes this Festival different from all others? MA NISHTANA?

 

The Talmud in Pesachim 68, discusses the best way to celebrate Yom Tov, and quotes a dispute between R' Eliezer and R' Yehoshua. R' Eliezer says that Yom Tov should be spent either KULO LAHASHEM, entirely praying to G-D and learning Torah, or KULO LACHEM, entirely as a day of eating and drinking and other physical enjoyment. R' Yehoshua says that the Festivals should be divided in half, CHETZYO LAHASHEM V'CHETZYO LACHEM, half for G-D and half for us.

 

But even R' Eliezer agrees that Shavuot must also include physical enjoyment thru feasting, because it is the day on which G-D gave us the Torah. Rashi there explains that we need to show that we are still joyful that we accepted the Torah, and therefore we need to celebrate in a physical way by eating and drinking.

 

We can say that Shavuot can't be only a day of ritual Halachic structure. In order for us to demonstrate our joy and happiness for accepting the Torah, Shavuot must include our human input.

 

The part of Shavuot meant for physical human enjoyment is described in the Talmud as being for eating and drinking. It seems that this concept on Shavuot has expanded, as generations of Jews have added customs to the celebration of MATAN TORAH.  

 

To show our joy for the acceptance of the Torah anew every year, we imbue this Festival with delicious new meaning, such as eating cheese cake, cheese blintzes (my favorite), and decorating the Shul with flowers. These customs demonstrate our love for the Yom Tov when G-D gave us His Holy Torah.