D_16990
Shavuos Timeline:
Putting things in Perspective
By Mr. Robert Sussman
Grade Level: Elementary, Middle School, High School, Adult
Description:
This timeline clearly illustrates the major events of the Jew’s first two years
following Yetzias Mitzrayim (2448 and 2449). The months of each year are
featured at the bottom of the page while the major events that occurred in those
months are summarized at the top. This item is available as two 8.27”x10.80”
(A4) sized papers which can be taped together or as a single 16.54”x10.83” (A3)
sized spread. This item is particularly useful for those teaching Sefer Bamidbar.
What to download
Download the print-ready PDF file (includes lesson plan/instructions).
Instructions:
1. Print the timeline as a poster and hang in the classroom for the students to
use as a visual reference.
2. Discuss the historical events. Refer to the timeline.
Shavuot
Putting things in PERSPECTIVE
A closer look at the many significant events that took place during the first two years – 2448 and 2449 – after the exodus from Egypt, including the
giving of the Torah, which we celebrate on Shavuos I BY ROBERT SUSSMAN
2448 2449
16 TAMMUZ – The children of Israel, 10 TISHREI (AKA YOM
PHOTOGRAPHS: BIGSTOCKPHOTO.COM; WIKIMEDIA.COM
15 NISAN – We left Egypt.
23 NISAN – We arrived at Marah, where we who had miscalculated the day that KIPPUR) – Moshe came
received some laws, among them: Shabbos. Moshe would return, thought that he down from Har Sinai with 14 IYAR – Pesach Sheini (aka the Second
was due to return on this date and, when the second set of luchos Pesach) – those who were unable to bring their
he did not, feared that he had died. (tablets), informed the chil- Pesach offering on Pesach were given a second
17 TAMMUZ – Moshe came down from dren of Israel that Hashem 29 SIVAN – The twelve Meraglim
16 IYAR – Manna started falling and Moshe chance to do so.
Har Sinai carrying the two luchos (tab- had forgiven them, and (spies) (see Bamidbar chapters 13
instituted the first blessing of Birchas
lets) with the Aseres Hadibros (Ten commanded them to build and 14) were sent to survey the
HaMazon (aka Bentching or Grace After
Commandments) engraved upon them, the Mishkan (Tabernacle). land of Israel and its inhabitants
Meals).
only to find the children of Israel wor- 11 TISHREI – The children 1 NISAN – The Mishkan was set up and not taken and report back.
22 IYAR (SOME SAY 23 IYAR) – The first
time Shabbos was observed. Only a few days shiping the eigel hazahav (golden calf), of Israel began bringing down; Aharon’s sons, Nadav and Avihu, died.
later, Amalek attacked us. at which point he smashed the tablets gifts for the construction of 15 NISAN – Pesach was celebrated [according to Rashi,
that he was carrying. the Mishkan. Moshe began this was the only time Pesach was celebrated during the
18 TAMMUZ – Moshe again went up hearing disputes from the 40 years that the children of Israel wandered in the
8 AV – The Meraglim returned
1 SIVAN – We arrived at Har Sinai. Har Sinai for another 40 days (his people and his father-in- midbar (desert)].
and gave a bad report about Israel.
6 SIVAN – Hashem gave us the Torah second 40-day period on Har Sinai). law, Yisro, suggested that 9 AV – That night, the people
(some say it was 7 Sivan) – this is what Moshe, with Hashem’s con- cried over the report of the
we celebrate on Shavuos, the only one sent, institute a judicial Meraglim and Hashem decreed
of the Chagim that does not fall out 29 AV – Moshe descended from hierarchy so as to ease that the generation would not
on a date specified by the Torah, but Har Sinai. Hashem commanded Moshe’s burden. 25 KISLEV – The construction of the
enter the land of Israel, instead
instead following a count of 49 days/7 Moshe to carve two stone luchos 15 TISHREI – Construc- Mishkan was completed (some say it
remaining in the midbar for 40
weeks after the bringing of the Omer “like the first ones”, noting that He tion of the Mishkan began was 1 Adar).
years. According to some, Korach’s
offering, which occurred each year on would write upon them the words (and the clouds of glory, rebellion (see Bamidbar chapter
the 16th of Nisan after we entered that had been on the first ones, and which had departed follow- 16) took place soon after this
Eretz Yisrael. to return to Har Sinai the next day. ing the sin of the golden (there are other opinions,
7 SIVAN – Moshe went up Har Sinai 30 AV – Moshe went up Har Sinai calf, returned; we would however, that maintain it
and remained there for 40 days (his for another 40 days (his third and later be commanded to cel- 23 ADAR – The Mishkan was set up for happened at various other times
first 40-day period on Har Sinai). final 40-day period on Har Sinai). ebrate Succos on this date). the first time (for seven days it was set both before and after this). JL
up and taken down).
Cheshvan
Tammuz
Tammuz
Tishrei
Shevat
Kislev
Nisan
Nisan
Tevet
Sivan
Sivan
Adar
Iyar
Iyar
Elul
Elul
Av
Av
Based primarily upon The Jewish Timeline Encyclopedia by Rabbi Mattis Kantor, Chumash with Rashi, Seder HaDoros, Seder Olam Rabbah,
The Hebrew months of the year: 1. Nisan 2. Iyar 3. Sivan 4. Tammuz 5. Av 6. Elul 7. Tishrei 8. Cheshvan 9. Kislev 10. Tevet 11. Shevat 12. Adar
and Midrash Rabbah
48 JEWISH LIFE ■ ISSUE 106 JEWISH LIFE ■ ISSUE 106 49
Shavuot
Putting things in
A closer look at the many significant events that took place during the first
giving of the Torah, which we celebrate on Shavuos I BY ROBERT SUSSMAN
2448
15 NISAN – We left Egypt. 16 TAMMUZ – The children of Israel, 10 TISHREI (AKA YOM
23 NISAN – We arrived at Marah, where we who had miscalculated the day that KIPPUR) – Moshe came
received some laws, among them: Shabbos. Moshe would return, thought that he down from Har Sinai with
was due to return on this date and, when the second set of luchos
he did not, feared that he had died. (tablets), informed the chil-
16 IYAR – Manna started falling and Moshe 17 TAMMUZ – Moshe came down from dren of Israel that Hashem
instituted the first blessing of Birchas Har Sinai carrying the two luchos (tab- had forgiven them, and
HaMazon (aka Bentching or Grace After lets) with the Aseres Hadibros (Ten commanded them to build
Meals). Commandments) engraved upon them, the Mishkan (Tabernacle).
22 IYAR (SOME SAY 23 IYAR) – The first only to find the children of Israel wor- 11 TISHREI – The children
time Shabbos was observed. Only a few days shiping the eigel hazahav (golden calf), of Israel began bringing
later, Amalek attacked us. at which point he smashed the tablets gifts for the construction of
that he was carrying. the Mishkan. Moshe began
18 TAMMUZ – Moshe again went up hearing disputes from the
1 SIVAN – We arrived at Har Sinai. Har Sinai for another 40 days (his people and his father-in-
6 SIVAN – Hashem gave us the Torah second 40-day period on Har Sinai). law, Yisro, suggested that
(some say it was 7 Sivan) – this is what Moshe, with Hashem’s con-
we celebrate on Shavuos, the only one sent, institute a judicial
of the Chagim that does not fall out 29 AV – Moshe descended from hierarchy so as to ease
on a date specified by the Torah, but Har Sinai. Hashem commanded Moshe’s burden.
instead following a count of 49 days/7 Moshe to carve two stone luchos 15 TISHREI – Construc-
weeks after the bringing of the Omer “like the first ones”, noting that He tion of the Mishkan began
offering, which occurred each year on would write upon them the words (and the clouds of glory,
the 16th of Nisan after we entered that had been on the first ones, and which had departed follow-
Eretz Yisrael. to return to Har Sinai the next day. ing the sin of the golden
7 SIVAN – Moshe went up Har Sinai 30 AV – Moshe went up Har Sinai calf, returned; we would
and remained there for 40 days (his for another 40 days (his third and later be commanded to cel-
first 40-day period on Har Sinai). final 40-day period on Har Sinai). ebrate Succos on this date).
Cheshvan
Tammuz
Tishrei
Kislev
Nisan
Sivan
Iyar
Elul
Av
The Hebrew months of the year: 1. Nisan 2. Iyar 3. Sivan 4. Tammuz 5. Av 6. Elul 7. Tishrei 8. Cheshvan 9. Kislev 10. Tevet 11. Shevat 12. Adar
48 JEWISH LIFE ■ ISSUE 106
PERSPECTIVE
two years – 2448 and 2449 – after the exodus from Egypt, including the
2449
PHOTOGRAPHS: BIGSTOCKPHOTO.COM; WIKIMEDIA.COM
14 IYAR – Pesach Sheini (aka the Second
Pesach) – those who were unable to bring their
Pesach offering on Pesach were given a second
29 SIVAN – The twelve Meraglim
chance to do so.
(spies) (see Bamidbar chapters 13
and 14) were sent to survey the
land of Israel and its inhabitants
1 NISAN – The Mishkan was set up and not taken and report back.
down; Aharon’s sons, Nadav and Avihu, died.
15 NISAN – Pesach was celebrated [according to Rashi,
this was the only time Pesach was celebrated during the
40 years that the children of Israel wandered in the
8 AV – The Meraglim returned
midbar (desert)].
and gave a bad report about Israel.
9 AV – That night, the people
cried over the report of the
Meraglim and Hashem decreed
that the generation would not
25 KISLEV – The construction of the
enter the land of Israel, instead
Mishkan was completed (some say it
remaining in the midbar for 40
was 1 Adar).
years. According to some, Korach’s
rebellion (see Bamidbar chapter
16) took place soon after this
(there are other opinions,
however, that maintain it
23 ADAR – The Mishkan was set up for happened at various other times
the first time (for seven days it was set both before and after this). JL
up and taken down).
Tammuz
Shevat
Nisan
Tevet
Sivan
Adar
Iyar
Elul
Av
Based primarily upon The Jewish Timeline Encyclopedia by Rabbi Mattis Kantor, Chumash with Rashi, Seder HaDoros, Seder Olam Rabbah,
and Midrash Rabbah
JEWISH LIFE ■ ISSUE 106 49
