Jewish holiday of Shavuot to be celebrated with dairy flair this month

From Staff Reports

At a unique crossroads between religion and cuisine, the Holiday of Shavuot, celebrating the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai over 3,300 years ago, has become a celebration of fine dairy cuisine as well. Shavuot is celebrated for two days, and this year the holiday celebrated on Friday and Saturday, May 26 and May 27 at 5 p.m. daily.

The Shavuot celebration is free of charge and all are welcome to join, regardless of Jewish affiliation or background. But organizers say an RSVP is appreciated. There is a special program and prizes for children.

As the Torah was given, and the laws of kosher dining were first received, the Jewish People were not yet capable of properly preparing beef and poultry and as such ate dairy. The rest is history.

Cheesecakes, ravioli, lasagna, Greek salad and cheese blintzes all take center stage during this ancient celebration. Some suggest that this has contributed to the renewed popularity this holiday has seen.

What is the holiday of Shavuot?

More than 3,300 years ago, the Jewish people received the Torah from G-d at Mount Sinai.

Shavuot means “weeks” and marks the completion of the seven-week counting period between Passover and Shavuot. Shavuot customs include all-night Torah study, listening to the recitation of the Ten Commandments, the reading of the Book of Ruth, eating dairy products and adorning the synagogue and home with flowers.

When thinking Jewish holidays, Passover, Chanukah and Yom Kippur come to mind. But Shavuot is considered one of Judaism’s major holidays and was a “pilgrimage” when all of Israel would travel to Jerusalem to celebrate in the Temple.

“No, it isn’t all about the food,” said Rabbi Peretz Goldshmid of the Chabad Jewish Center.

“What is important is that the community is joining together, hearing the Ten Commandments and celebrating the Torah. But the good food certainly helps.”

The Chabad Jewish center welcomes the community to its annual Ice Cream Party & Dairy Buffet on Friday, May 26 at 5 p.m.

For more information, visit JewishDelta.com/Shavuot or call 925-420-4999.

Funding Your Living Trust

by Martin C. Johnson, Attorney at Law, MBA,RMA®, EA

After establishing a Revocable Living Trust with an estate planning attorney, it’s crucial to complete the most important step: funding the Trust. This involves re-titling your assets to indicate that they have been transferred to the Trust. Simply establishing the Trust is not enough to ensure that your assets are protected. Here are some steps to check if your assets have been transferred to your Trust:

1. Identify your Trust name and establishment date carefully; every word is important. The name of the Trust and your name as trustee and date should match on all assets transferred to the Trust.

2. Check your grant deed or certificate for real property to ensure that it lists your Trust name, you as trustee and date the Trust was established. If only your name is listed, the property is not in your Trust.

3. Check your bank and brokerage statements to see if your Trust name is included in the account title.

4. If you own business interests or LLCs, discuss with an attorney to ensure that the governing documents authorize the transfer to your Trust.

5. Retirement accounts and life insurance policies are generally not transferred into a Trust due to tax consequences, but there are exceptions. Review these assets with an attorney to determine whether transferring them to your Trust is appropriate.

Failing to properly fund your Trust can result in your beneficiaries being required to open a probate to transfer the assets after your death, which can be expensive and time-consuming in California. It’s crucial to check all your assets, especially those acquired after establishing your Trust, to ensure that they have been properly transferred. Some estate planning attorneys may fund your Trust for you, but it’s still essential to verify that all assets have been transferred correctly. This article provides only general legal information, and not specific legal advice. The information contained is not a substitute for a personal consultation with an attorney. 360 Estate Planning Inc., Phone (925) 289-8837, 1600 S. Main Street, Ste. 100, Walnut Creek, CA 94596, www.360EPI. com © 2023 Martin Johnson

Archie, the 7-month-old F1B Goldendoodle, wanted to stop by and say ‘Hi’ to everyone and hopes you have a Golden day!

For more information, email contacthalo@ yahoo.com or visit www.eccchalo.org

Meet Chuck

Chuck is a super sweet, playful boy that we think sees shadows. He is always chirping ... he has a lot to say. Chuck loves his ball tower toy. Chuck will adjust to any household in a couple weeks. He is an absolute love bug! To meet Chuck, contact his foster mom, Sylvia, at girlgoyle7@ gmail.com