Dear Doves,
      Pentecost (Shavuot) was the second of the three Pilgrimage Festivals to Jerusalem. When there was a Temple there, men over the age of 20 of the twelve tribes were commanded to go up to Jerusalem to participate in each of the three. We have noted the differences between the interpretations of the Pharisees and the Sadducees concerning the date of the Feast of First Fruits of barley, the beginning date for day 1 of The Counting of the Omer, and the two days to celebrate Pentecost (Shavuot).This year the dates of Sivan 6 and 7, Pentecost (Shavuot), according to the traditions of the Pharisees have come and gone. The Christian celebration of Pentecost was on 6-12. That leaves the dates for the Sadducean Pentecost (Shavuot). It too would be a two day event from sunset for Israel from 6-11 to 12 and 6-12 to 13. But for those far behind the international date line, we need to add a third day for those longitudes far behind Israel. Israel ends the two days as of sunset on Sivan 11 going to 12. The whole world ends the two days as Israel goes from Sivan 12 to 13. Much of the world will still be in Sivan 12. This will be 6-14 going to 15, the day of double blessing, the number 4 day of The Scriptural Week, the midst of the Menorah number, and at the full moon. It will be the Last Day of the Pharisee or Sadducee reckonings of days of Pentecost (Shavuot) for 2011. It will be the Third Day of the Sadducean overlapping days of Pentecost for Israel and the rest of the world far behind Israel on the international 24 hour time zones grid.
      Here are some curious facts about Sivan 12. In the Temple era, holiday sacrifices for Shavuot could be taken to the Temple from Sivan 8 to 12 if they had not been taken during the Pilgrimage Festival. The date of Sivan 12 was the absolute Last Day, a cut off date for Festival offerings, for sacrifices. This was according to the Siddur Ha Rav of Shulchan Aruch Ha Rav. Also, the period of Sivan 8-13 according to Exodus 24:16 were the days when "The glory of the Lord rested on Mt. Sinai and the cloud (of his glory) covered for six days, and on the seventh day he called Moses from the midst of the cloud." This is noted in "The Feast of Shavuot: Some Chronological Suggestions" by Tim Hegg. Did the cloud ascend off the mountain as of Sivan 13?
     According to the Christian Liturgical Year, the Season of Pentecost extends from now to Advent. The date of Sivan 12 has a quality of mystery. There are still remaining days of the Sadducean days of Pentecost (Shavuot) this week. May we continue to WATCH for The Beloved, The Groom of Grooms. Come quickly, Lord...
 
With Love and Shalom,
Jean