Vegan Shavuot (Pentecost).

May 2, 2021
Blog
Shaniki

A little about Pentecost and a collection of vegan recipes.

Pentecost is a Jewish holiday, that’s better known as The Feast of Harvest. It’s originally an agricultural holiday during the spring, celebrating the first fruits, and wheat harvest. It is the second of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals (In Hebrew “Shalosh Regalim”). In the Jewish calendar, Shavuot applies on the sixth day of Sivan, Or between May 15 – June 14. According to the Bible, this date was the time of receiving the 10 commandments from Moses at Mount Sinai.

During the Temple period, the people of Israel brought “sacrifices” to the Temple which is called “Bikkurim” or first fruits. It was one-tenth of the first harvest produced in the spring. For this reason, Pentecost is also called the Feast of Firstfruits. When I was younger, we used to gift baskets full of fresh fruits and dried fruits from one to another, traditionally. We would also wear white festive holiday clothes.

So how did Shavuot become a Dairy Feast holiday?

Shavuot is not a dairy cheese holiday as is commonly thought in Israel. It is but an agricultural harvest holiday originally. Sadly, corporations that produce milk and cheese have been educating the younger generation in recent decades. Since kindergarten, they continuously recommend a dairy-based diet and encouraging the consumption of cheese and dairy products. All because of the economic aspect and profit that is made from it.

They promote dairy through sending drawing and coloring booklets to kindergartens on behalf of the Dairy Council here in Israel. Dietary nutrition booklets suggesting dairy products as basic nutrition and adhere to their false importance for humans. Continuous massive marketing through advertisements on television and in magazines.

Humans do not need cow’s milk and its products in their diet. The consumption of milk beyond infancy age by adults can and causes serious health issues. About 65%-70% of the world’s population suffers from lactose intolerance, which is the least of the health issues caused from dairy consumption.

This is how the dairy industry lied to the world

Milk production from cows in the dairy industry is causing serious environmental problems. Health problems, and worst of all – causing ongoing suffering to our fellow animals living on this planet. A female cow is only producing milk when she is pregnant or breastfeeding. Just like any other female mammal. Whenever we consume milk or any dairy product, we prevent the milk which was produced for their calves from them.

To continue producing milk, a cow must be continuously pregnant. To that end, she undergoes forced fertilization. Shortly after calving, she becomes pregnant again. The calf is then taken straight from her to be slaughtered for the meat industry. After years of pregnancies, and the cow reaches a state of exhaustion and illness, she is sent for slaughter as well.

How to celebrate a vegan Shavuot holiday?

Today, the vegan diet is in hysterical rapidly growing culinary development. Vegan “dairy” products can be found in retail chains all over the world. Its also easy to make milk substitutes and vegan cheese types from a variety of nuts, soybeans, and seeds at home. Thousands of recipes can be found online today. Anywhere from vegan cheese types to desserts. Pastries, and cakes. You can easily use those vegan cheeses and substitutes for any classic recipe.

I’ve gathered here a collection of recipes for Shavuot for you that of course will only grow. Same time every, it is possible to enjoy those amazing dishes that we usually make for Shavuot without the suffering involved in using animal products. Delicious, good, 100% cholesterol-free, and most importantly, humane.