Shavuot, or Shvues, is a wonderfully Jewish holiday. It celebrates the day that Moses received the Ten Commandments atop Mount Sinai, as well as the annual grain harvest, and from Israel to Islip, Jews celebrate with food, music and family gatherings.

As with all Jewish holidays, said food plays an instrumental role. While Chanukah makes most people think of latkes and sufganiyot and Passover brings up thoughts of matzo and gefilte fish, Shvues has its own delicious treat: cheesecake.

While tradition dictates that any dairy product will do, modern western interpretation often calls for the delicious, rich cake to round out a traditional Shavuot meal. There are a handful of theories as to why we eat dairy on Shavuot, with some having to do with the root of a Hebrew word for Mount Sinai, I

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