The Laws of Shavuos / The scroll of Rus

1. The custom is to read the scroll of Rus on the festival of Shavuos. According to the custom of the Ashkenazim one should ideally read it from a scroll of parchment, and there are those who make a blessing before this reading. According to the Sefardim one reads it from a normal holy book without a blessing. Those who read this scroll in the night during the fixed scripts for the night do not need to read it again in the day. (Shulchan Aruch and Mishne Berurah 490)

2. There are many reasons given for this reading: A) Since the store of Rus took place at the time of the harvesting of the wheat and barley. B) Since the story of Rus is about her conversion and the giving of the Torah was like the “conversion” of the whole nation. C) As King David died on Shavuos and this scroll describes the ancestors of David (Avudraham). D) To teach us that the Torah is only given through deprivations and poverty. E) To teach us the reward for those who perform kindness. (ibid) (Yalkut Shimoni)