Shavuot: A Sweet Reason to Celebrate with Cheesecake

Shavuot is one of those holidays that can easily slip under the radar. Falling in late spring—often after Hebrew school and Jewish day schools have ended for the year—it doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. But this holiday carries rich meaning, deep spiritual significance, and some truly delicious food traditions.

Shavuot marks the culmination of the Counting of the Omer, the seven-week spiritual journey that begins on the second night of Passover. For 49 days, we count upward—from liberation to revelation—preparing ourselves to stand once again at Mount Sinai. The Omer is a time of reflection, anticipation, and self-improvement, and Shavuot is its grand finale.

At its core, Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah—when the Israelites received the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. It’s a moment of covenant, connection, and identity. We celebrate not just that the Torah was given, but that we, as a people, chose to receive it. There’s something beautifully timeless about that moment, and each year, Shavuot invites us to recommit to learning, tradition, and spiritual growth.

One of the most well-known customs of Shavuot is eating dairy foods, which is a noticeable shift from the typically meat-heavy meals of other Jewish holidays. Why dairy? There are several interpretations. One popular explanation is that when the Torah was given, the Israelites had not yet received the laws of kashrut (kosher practice), so rather than risk breaking these new commandments, they chose to eat simple dairy meals. Other midrashim connect dairy with purity, nourishment, and the sweetness of Torah itself—”milk and honey are under your tongue” (Song of Songs 4:11).

Of course, leave it to Jewish tradition to take something like dairy and turn it into a delicious holiday spread—cheesecakes, blintzes, bourekas, kugels, and more. My team had an absolute blast dreaming up new cheesecake flavors for this year. From classic and citrusy to chocolatey and creative, we’ve leaned all the way into this dairy moment—even if, like many Jewish stomachs, we might suffer the consequences later.

Even if you don’t formally observe Shavuot, indulging in a dairy treat with your family can be a lovely, sweet way to honor this moment in our tradition. It’s a holiday that reminds us of what it means to receive, to learn, and to grow—not just from ancient texts, but from one another.

We hope our cheesecakes bring a little joy and a lot of flavor to your Shavuot table—or your Tuesday table. After all, a holiday centered on Torah and dessert? That’s definitely one worth celebrating.