The scriptural basis for covering the boy so that he won’t see a gentile or a dog on the day when he begins learning the sacred letters is: “No one shall come up with you, and no one shall be seen anywhere on the mountain; neither shall the flocks nor the herds graze before that mountain” (Exodus 34:3).

The boys are brought on the morning of Shavuot at sunrise, as it is written: “On the third day, when morning came, there was thunder and lightning” (Exodus 19:16).

They cover the boy with a cloak while bringing him from his home to the synagogue or to the teacher’s house, as it is written: “They took their places at the foot of the mountain” (Exodus 19:17).

They place him upon the teacher’s lap, and the teacher sits him down to study, as it is written: “Did I conceive this entire people? Did I give birth to them, that You should say to me, ‘Carry them in your bosom as a nurse carries an infant’?” (Numbers 11:12). It is also written: “I taught Ephraim to walk, taking them upon My arms” (Hosea 11:3).

They bring a tablet upon which are written the letters of the alphabet in their regular order, alef, bet, gimel, dalet, and in reverse order, tav, shin, resh, qof. Also written upon it are: “Moses commanded us the Torah, an inheritance of the congregation of Jacob” (Deuteronomy 33:4), “May the Torah be my occupation” and “The Lord called to Moses” (Leviticus 1:1).

The teacher reads every letter of the alphabet aloud, and the boy repeats after him. The teacher then reads the reverse alphabet, and the boy repeats after him. They do the same with “Moses commanded us the Torah,” “May the Torah be my occupation” and “The Lord called to Moses.”

The teacher then places a little honey upon the tablet, and the boy licks the honey from the letters with his tongue.

Afterward they bring a cake kneaded with honey upon which is written: “The Lord God gave me the tongue of those who are taught, so that I might know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning He awakens, He awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. The Lord God opened my ear, and I didn’t rebel or turn backward” (Isaiah 50:4–5).

The teacher reads every word of these verses aloud, and the boy repeats after him.

Afterward they bring a cooked, peeled egg upon which is written: “He said to me, ‘Mortal, feed your stomach and fill your belly with this scroll that I give you.’ I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth” (Ezekiel 3:3).

The teacher reads every word aloud, and the boy repeats after him. They feed the boy the cake and the egg because they are beneficial for opening the heart.