Why dairy on Shavuot? [moved from Kosher]

[Diane in Bexley]

Embarrassed to say I don't remember the deal with this. Grew up in kosher home, we always did cheese blintzes, some kind of cream soup (mushroom, celery), and ricotta cheesecake (not as heavy as all cream cheese) for dessert. Would rather ask here than friends & relatives who will think I should know. Thanks!

[serenarobin]

I come from a sephardic background where it was NOT customary to eat dairy on shvuaos. Always meat on every holiday!

[rockycat]

http://www.aish.com/shavuotfeatures/s...
I've always liked reasons #1 and #5 myself. Reason #4, eh.

[Diane in Bexley]

Thanks! Very informative. So lactose intolerance began with Shavuot? Just kidding.

[jeterfan]

These posts represents theology and not just kosher food.

[MartyB]

They are all shaky to me. I like better the reason "Because" or "Why not?"

Religious issues aside, I love Shavuot mostly because I LOVE cheese blintzes and cheese cakes and in general like dairy over meat. The shul that I daven in always has a lavish kiddush on Shavuot with an array of blintzes, cheese cakes, baked ziti, eggplant parmesan, salads, donuts, fruits etc..

[DebbyT]

I don't remember every learning this at school, and I went to Yeshiva Day School and High School! It always seemed a given. Several years ago, I asked the same question...and the response I got was that because Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mt Sinai, and because we had no laws of Kashrut beforehand, we ate dairy/parve, to be sure we didn't break any commandments.
Not sure if this is the definitive answer, after all, dairy products from non-kosher animals is not kosher, and there are non-kosher fish species, but it's an answer...
And I LOVE cheesecake!!

[vallevin]

That's pretty much what was written in Book of Our Heritage by R. Elyahu Kitov. He actually cites 4 different reasons from 4 different sources. Too long to write out here. I strongly recommend the book.