There is a custom on the night of Shavuot to pull an all-nighter of Torah study, known as a Tikkun Leil Shavuot. The Zohar teaches that our work on this night is not just that of studying, but of “beading,” of stringing together pearls of wisdom from the riches of Torah. We imagine Shavuot as the wedding of God and the Jewish people. As we study the stories of our Torah, the preaching of our prophets and the twists of our Talmud, it is as if we are stringing together a beautiful beaded necklace to adorn the bride on her wedding day. Each new insight that we offer only makes the jewelry more exquisite. I hope you will join us over the holiday of Shavuot to delve into the treasures of our Torah and to assemble them anew.
Our Tikkun Leil Shavuot begins Saturday night at 8:00 PM at GJC and brings together our Northwest Jewish Community from GJC, Mishkan Shalom, P’nai Or, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and the Tikkun Olam Chavurah. Shavuot learning, prayer and celebration will continue throughout the weekend. Our Charry and Masorti communities will meet together at 10:00 AM on Sunday morning in the Canteen Room. Dorshei Derekh will daven in the Maslow Auditorium. On Monday, our Charry Service will meet at 10:00 AM in the Charry Sanctuary as we sing the songs of Hallel, recite the prayers of Yizkor and also hold a plaque dedication ceremony in memory of beloved community members and relatives who have died. Minyan Masorti will hold a service at 10:00 AM in the Canteen Room. Let’s come together in community to remember, to celebrate and to unearth new understandings of ancient words of Torah.