The first Shavuot service in the new synagogue of Dohany Street

The colored decorative engraving depicts the scene when the Torah scroll is shown to the community during Shavuot. The holiday commemorates the anniversary of the day God gave the Torah to the entire nation of Israel assembled at Mount Sinai. The celebration of Shavuot, besides giving of the Torah, is also the feast of the first grain harvest. By tradition the synagogue during Shavuot is decorated with green foliage and plants as it is displayed on the picture. In front of the Torah Ark, among the leaders of the community, Chief Rabbi Meisel, with the Torah in his hands, and Chief Cantor Friedmann can be discerned. In a long row, facing the group of people in front of the Torah Ark, is the twenty-member boy choir. An official employee of the community is shown between the benches who, according to the ancient custom, offers the privilege of reading the Torah in exchange for a significant donation. In addition to the great religious holidays, the huge synagogue with almost 3000 seats, was also the place for events that demonstrated the communion of modernizing Jews with Hungarian society and their identification with the national ideology.