“The religious Jew is to study Torah for the sake of studying Torah. Torah lishmah. The ingenuity of the edict, I realized, was that it relieved you of the obligation to be qualified. You studied because you had to study, and those who taught had to take you as a student.”
― Judith Shulevitz, The Sabbath World: Glimpses of a Different Order of Time
Our celebration of Shavuot, the anniversary of the Receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai, begins on Thursday night May 21st.
Thursday evening, May 21
Light Festival candles at home with two blessings (l’hadlik ner shel yom tov and shehechiyanu) at 7:46pm.
It is customary light a long-burning yahrzeit candle prior to Festival Candles (no later than 6pm) in order to transfer fire for lighting candles on the second night of Shavuot and Shabbat (7:47pm) and for cooking during the holiday. In addition, to allow one to cook on Friday in preparation for Shabbat, please follow the directions below for the preparation of an Eruv Tavshilin.*
Leil Shavuot
Mincha – 6:30pm
Light festival candles at home with two blessings (ner shel yom tov and shehechiyanu) no later than 8:15pm.
Tikkun Leil Shavuot- A Night of Learning
Join us on Erev Shavuot for a Tikkun Leil Shavuot, a night of learning, snacking, and celebrating the gift of Torah together.
Friday, May 22: Shavuot Day 1
Shacharit – 9:30am (please note late start)
Torah Tots – 10:30am
Mincha, Kabbalat Shabbat, and Maariv – 6:15pm
Candle Lighting – 7:47pm
Light holiday candles at home from pre-lit candle with two blessings (Ner Shel Shabbat v’Yom Tov and Shehecheyanu)
Saturday, May 23: Shabbat & Shavuot Day 2
Shacharit & Reading of Megillat Ruth – 9am
Torah Tots – 10:30am
Yizkor – Approximately 11am
Mincha – 7:46pm
Maariv & Havdalah – 8:56pm
*Eruv Tavshilin How – To
To allow cooking for Shabbat on the preceding Yom Tov, on Thursday before Shavuot begins we perform the ritual known as Eruv Tavshilin, literally combining our cooking for Shavuot and Shabbat. Please follow this procedure:
1. Before Yom Tov begins, take two prepared foods, customarily a baked food (like matzah or challah), and a cooked food (like a hard boiled egg, or a piece of cooked meat or vegetables).
2. Recite the following blessing:
a. ברוך אתה ה’ אלוקינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו על מצות עירוב
b. Baruch atah Adonai, eloheinu melekh ha’olam, asher kiddeshanu bemitzvotav vitzivvanu al mitzvat eiruv.
3. Then, in a language you understand, recite the following declaration, that cooking for Shabbat was begun before – and will be completed on – Yom Tov:
בערוב הזה יהי מותר לנו לאפות ולבשל ולהטמין ולהדליק נר, ולעשות כל–צרכינו מיום טוב לשבת, לנו ולכל ישראל הדרים בעיר הזאת
b. By means of this combining (eruv), we are permitted to bake, cook, warm, kindle lights, and make all the necessary preparations for shabbat during the festival, we and all who live in this city/locale.
4. Set aside the two foods for eating on Shabbat during the day.