Outside of Israel, we read the Scroll of Ruth on the second day of Shavuot. This year, the second day of Shavuot occurs on Shabbat and so we will read the Book of Ruth on Shabbat. Interestingly, where Purim coincides with Shabbat we don’t read the Scroll of Esther on Shabbat and when Rosh HaShanna occurs on Shabbat we don’t blow the Shofar on Shabbat. There’s a blanket ban lest people carry – in a place where there is no Eruv! – the Scroll of Esther or a Shofar on Shabbat. Why don’t we have the same concern with the Scroll of Ruth? One explanation is that the Scroll of Esther and hearing the Shofar are obligations on each individual, whereas the obligation to read the Scroll of Ruth is not upon the individual but only upon the community – when a minyan gathers. We are concerned that individuals, left to their own devices, may end up doing the wrong thing but we are confident that a community will act appropriately and so this Scroll of Ruth is even read on Shabbat.
