Shavuot

As Practiced by Spanish and Portuguese Jews

The synagogue is adorned for the Shavuot festival with beautiful floral decorations around the heikhal and the teba. There is an abundance of plants as well freshly cut flowers and greens.

Many families have dairy for their evening meal on Shavuot. Some have dairy during the day on Shavuot as well. Others partake of meat for their festive meals.

In Holland, the regular Tikkun Leil Shavuot would be studied all through the night by some members of the congregation. Here in America, this custom has not been widely observed. The Adra Zuta (as it is called by the Spanish and Portuguese, not Idra Zuta)
would have been recited in Holland as a part of the Tikkun Leil Shavuot.
The ten commandments are read on the morning of Shavuot and the entire congregation stands. The decalogue is read in the special tradicional tune (" High Naum").

On the afternoons of Shavuot, prior to the Minha service, the azharot, composed by the eleventh-century Spanish poet Rabbi Shelomo ben Yehuda Gabirol, and the introductory poem by the twelfth-century poet David ben Eleazar Bekuda, are chanted, verse by verse, by individual congregants. On the first afternoon, the 248 positive commandments, and on the second afternoon, the 365 negative commandments are thus enumerated. On the first afternoon, following the Azharot, the first half of the Scroll of Ruth is recited, with individual congregants singing the verses, and the second half is completed following the Azharot on the second day of Shavuot.
In Parashat Naso, the distribution of the aliyot according to the Spanish and Portuguese tradition is as follows: The kohen receives the first aliyah, Numbers 4:21-4:33. The Levi is called for Numbers 4:34-49. Shelishi is called for Numbers 5:1-6:27 (until the end of the Priestly Benediction). Revii is called up for Numbers 7:1-11. Hamishi is for Numbers 7:12-41. Shishi is Numbers 7:42-71. Shevii is from Numbers 7:72 to Numbers 7:89 ( the conclusion of the parashah). Maftir is Numbers 7:87-89.