Source for Special Caution with Meat and Milk on Shavuot
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Question
I heard that on Shavuot there is a special significance in being meticulous about the laws of meat and milk. Could you provide a source?
Answer
Hello Rabbi,
The Shelah (Shavuot Ner Mitzvah, section 16) explained the juxtaposition of topics in the verse (Exodus 23:19; 34:26): "The first of the first fruits of your land you shall bring to the house of the Lord your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother's milk," to hint that on the Festival of the First Fruits, namely Shavuot, one must be particularly careful with the laws of meat and milk.
In Torat Chaim (B.M. 86:), the reason for the custom of eating dairy on Shavuot is explained according to the words of the Midrash. The angels argued, "Place Your glory upon the heavens," meaning leave the Torah among us, the angels, and Israel is not worthy of receiving the Torah. The Holy One, blessed be He, replied to them that when you descended to the world and were in the house of Abraham our forefather, you ate meat with milk together, as it is said, "He took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared," while a Jewish child is already careful with meat and milk. Therefore, to strengthen our right to the Torah, we are particularly meticulous with all the laws of meat and milk on the day of the giving of the Torah.