Roles Reversed

SHELL' DORF N/IAN

including Ilana and her Hillel Day
School of Metropolitan Detroit class-
mates Eli Eisman and Joey Gartner.
Eisman says he heard about the
Tikun Leil Shavuot from Weiss, who
thought he might be interested in
learning more as he approached his
bar mitzvah. To attend, Eisman said
he had to cancel plans with his friend

Gartner, who instead decided to join
him. They met up with Ilana, who
Editorial Assistant
was there because of an "interest in
learning and Judaism," and who was
ast May, when Ilana
the only other non-adult at the event.
Goldberg, then 13, asked
The three attended night-long study
her mother if she would
sessions, comprised of 45-minute class-
drop her off at night at a
es, led by various synagogue leaders,
huge adult-filled building two cities
separated by 15-minute breaks for
from her home, then pick her up at 5
socializing, snacking
a.m., her normally
and sharing what Weiss
very protective mom
describes as "lots of caf-
said, "Sure."
feinated drinks."
Miriam Goldberg
During the sessions, the
says the reason she
three not only learned,
was so willing was
but they often were the
that her daughter
ones to answer the
eras going to be part
questions asked by
of an all-night study
other participants.
session at
Deciding that they
Congregation
so enjoyed the interac-
Shaarey Zedek in
tive sessions and being
Southfield called
with a group who
Tikun Leil Shavuot.
Goldberg describes as
Tradition tells us
really wanting to be
that the observance
there, learning," they
began with the 16th-
approached Weiss and
century Jews of Safad.
told him that the next
After oversleeping the
year, they would be
first morning of
back, but wanted to be
Shavuot, decided that
the teachers.
to prevent the event
And so on Shavuot,
from recurring, they
which
begins Thursday
would stay up all
night, May 20, the
night learning Torah.
three eighth graders
Tikun Leil Shavuot is
will
lead a 1 a.m. class
still observed in
Joey Gartner concentrates as Rabbi Steven Weiss explains a point.
on "The Ten
Orthodox and
Commandments in
Conservative syna-
Classical
gogues throughout
Commentary."
the world. However,
Goldberg
says they
when Shaarey Zedek
Local Conservative synagogues observing Tikun Leil Shavuot on
will take turns in
Rabbi Steven Weiss
Thursday-Friday, May 20-21, include:
instruction and discus-
moved to Detroit
• Congregation Shaarey Zedek in Southfield, 8:15 p.m.-7:30 a.m.;
sion of the command-
from Atlanta last year,
Congregation Shaarey Zedek B'nai Israel Center in West
ments; "what they are,
he saw that there was
Bloomfield, 8:15 p.m.-midnight. (248) 357-5544.
what they mean and
no longstanding tra-
• Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills will feature three
what the sages say
dition locally.
study sessions on Shavuot themes at the home of Rabbi Daniel and
about them."
Weiss suggested
Lynn Scheele Nevins, 10 p.m.-1 a.m. (248) 851-5100.
Weiss describes
the idea to the con-
• Congregation Beth Abraham Hillel Moses in West Bloomfield will
Shavuot as "the only
gregation, and
hold a pizza party and Torah study session for adults and parallel
holiday without con-
received a less than
activities for children in kindergarten through grade 12; a make-
crete, tangible objects
enthusiastic response.
your-own-sundae party follows, 7:30-10 p.m. (248) 851-6880.
associated with it,"
Persevering, he told
• Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak Park is offering a mincha-
naming the menorah
them, "Well, I'll be
maativ service, dairy Shavuot dinner and Torah study from a vari-
of
Chanuka, the seder
there anyway" in case
ety of teachers and topics, plus a dessert reception, 7:30-10:30
plate
of Passover and
anyone decided to
p.m. Charge for dinner: $10 adults/$5 children; reservations
the
sukka
of Sukkot,
come.
required. (248) 968-8848.
among others. On
By early evening,
• Congregation B'nai Moshe in West Bloomfield will hold mincha-
Shavuot, he says, "We
120 people showed
maariv services, dinner and study sessions. Charge for dinner;
have the Torah, but
up; 35 were still
reservations required. (248) 788-0600.
how do you grasp
there for the next
For
more
about
Sbavuot,
please
see
AppleTree,
page
61.
what
that means? We
morning's service

L

Three middle-schoolers will lead a class
at an all-night Shavuot study se ssion.

"

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Shavuot Events

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