Why eat dairy products on Shavuot?

Another commonly known reason is that the numerical value of the Hebrew word for milk, ‘chalav’, is 40, which is the amount of days that Moses spent on Mount Sinai. Mount Sinai has eight names in Jewish sources, one of them is ‘Har Gavnunim’, ‘cheesy mountain,’ due to its pale and smooth appearance. 

 

Mount Sinai was chosen for the giving of the Torah, because while it is a mountain, in other words, has a commanding presence (healthy self-respect), it is a low mountain, representing humility. Some view eating milk products as humble behavior. 

 

All of the above are only some of the reasons (these and more are listed in the Hebrew version of The Book of our Heritage by Rabbi Eliyahu Ki-tov), but it is important to point out that having a meat meal separately from the dairy meal—for example, later on in the afternoon of the festival—is desirable for those who would normally eat meat on Shabbat or a festival, in order to honor the day.