News

We Jews have a lot of symbolic foods. On Rosh Hashana, it’s apples and honey for a sweet new year. On Chanukah, it’s fried latkes to recall the miracle of the oil. On Passover, it’s matzah and bitter herbs to remind us of slavery in Egypt.

And on the holiday of Shavuot, it’s … cheesecake?

"Wait... why do Jews eat cheesecake on this holiday again?" that one guy always asks.

(Just a thought: Because it’s delicious!)

We’re pretty sure that they didn’t have NY-style cream cheese in the desert. But behind that graham cracker crust and creamy goodness lies a message much deeper.

Shavuot marks the moment the Jewish people stood together at Mount Sinai and received the Torah, something that has shaped Jewish life, learning, values, and identity for thousands of years.

It’s a holiday about wisdom and asking bigger questions. Like what’s the deal with all the cheesecake?

As it turns out, JGO’s Senior Rabbi Matt Rosenberg may actually have an answer to that question.

In his Shavuot Dvar Torah video, Rabbi Matt explores how the journey from matzah on Passover to cheesecake on Shavuot reflects something much deeper about growth, purpose, and becoming the people we are meant to be.

Watch Rabbi Matt Rosenberg's Shavuot Torah Thought

Whether Shavuot to you means celebrating with family, or simply digging into a thick slice of your favorite dairy dessert, we hope it brings you something meaningful.

Chag Sameach from all of us at the Jewish Grad Organization!

P.S. If you hear someone say, “I’ll just have a small slice,” just know that they are lying to themselves.