From Dusk
To Dawn

Area congregations host all-night
Torah study sessions on Shavuot.

SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN

Staff Writer

T

he custom of Tikkun Leil
Shavuot, all-night Torah
study on the holiday of
Shavuot, has become an
annual occurrence in many Detroit-
area synagogues.
Shavuot, this year beginning
Thursday evening, May 16, com-
memorates the
Jews receiving
the Torah at
Mount Sinai;
Tikkun Leil
Shavuot honors
that gift with
Torah study.
The words
tikkun (repair)
and leil (entire
night) refer to
Rabbi Hal
study sessions
Greenwald
held to "make
up" for those
who fell asleep waiting for the Torah
at Mount Sinai and had to be awak-
ened by God to witness the revela-
tion.
Because the giving of the Torah is
likened to the wedding of the Jewish
people and the Torah, the night's
study is considered a preparation for
that marriage. It also emphasizes a
readiness to receive the Torah.
While tikkun once was devoted to
Torah study alone, many synagogues
now focus on specific study topics.
These range from music and liturgy
to Jewish history and Israel.
Congregation Shir Tikvah will
host "Shavuot Overnight," a service

and celebration blending Jewish
learning, music and meditation.
Congregation B'nai Moshe calls
its tikkun "A Celebration of Lifelong
Jewish Learning." The leader will be
Rabbi Hal Greenwald, director of
education of the Jewish Community
Center of Metropolitan Detroit. The
evening will include a recognition
for adult members of the synagogue
who demonstrate commitment to
regular Jewish study.
In various synagogues, tikkun
leaders will range from rabbis and
educators to lay persons and even
youth.
In many congregations, the all-
night study is concluded with
Shacharit (morning service). In some
synagogues, such as Congregation
Shaarey Zedek, the prayer service is
held outside.
"There's something attractive
about the idea of sitting down and
studying at night, when the world is
asleep," says Rabbi Kasriel Shemtov,
of The Shul/Chabad Lubavitch,
where there will be all-night study
this year.
"It's a time when you have noth-
ing on your mind and can focus on
the Torah and the day the Torah was
given to us," he says. "Devoting time
at night to Torah stud), has a spiritu-
al quality." ❑

5/10
2002

52

Congregation B'nai Moshe will cele-
brate the first night of Shavuot with a
Torah study session for adults called
"Tikun Leil Shavuot," as a symbolic re-
enactment of the revelation at Mount
Sinai, 7:30 . p.m. Thursday, May 16.
Rabbi Hal Greenwald, director of
education for the Jewish Community
Center of Metropolitan Detroit, will be
the guest teacher for this adult learning
event. All are welcome.
The program will begin with a prayer
service, followed at 8 p.m. by a light
dessert reception and recognition of
those adult learners participating in life-
long Jewish learning programs at B'nai
Moshe and in the community. One of
them is the Florence Melton Adult

Spend Shavuot
At Adat Shalom

Adults and teenagers are invited to
Adat Shalom Synagogue's annual
Tikkun Leil Shavuot 8 p.m.
Thursday, May 16. The program will
begin with festival services. Following
a light supper, participants will be
involved with the tikkun, which will
run until midnight.
The tikkun developed out of the
Jewish passion for learning Torah.
This year's tikkun will include several
discussions. Rabbi Daniel Nevins will

Mini-School of Metro Detroit, of which
Rabbi Greenwald is co-director.
Rabbi Greenwald's Torah study ses-
sion, tided "Meeting God in the Text:
The Joy and Challenge of Lifelong
Jewish Learning," will begin at 8:30
p.m. and run until about 10.
-
In addition, B'nai Moshe will hold
Shavuot morning services beginning at
9 a.m. on Friday, May 17, and on
Shabbat, May 18.
Following services on Friday, there
will be a special light lunch and dessert
reception. Reservations for the May 17
lunch are requested by Monday, May
13. There is a mitzvah donation for
lunch of $6.13 per person.
This year's Shavuot program is being
coordinated by West Bloomfield resi-
dents Anne Rottman and Nancy
Kaplan.

present a talk titled "The Etz Chaym
Chumash: Torah From Sinai?" Rabbi
Herbert Yoskowitz will talk about
"The Ideal Mother-in-Law: A Study
of Naomi." Participants will hear
Cantor Howard Glantz' "Notes From
the Cantor." Cantor Larry Vieder will
discuss "The Origins of Akdamut, the
Special Hymn for Shavuot." Elissa •
Berg, director of education and youth,
will present "Angels in the Infield."
Dessert and other refreshments will
be served throughout the evening.
There is no charge. For reservations,
call Sheila Lederman, (248) 851-
5100.

For information on local Tikkun
Leil Shavuot programs, contact
individual synagogues (see JN
Synagogue listings).

Beth Ahm Holds Graduation

The Natalie and Manny Charach
Religious School of Congregation
Beth Ahm will have its graduation
on Sunday, May 19, at 10:30 a.m.
Graduates are Stephanie

B'nai Moshe
Marks Shavuot

Eisenberg, Keri Kahn, Adam
Mosseri, Aaron Poris, Samantha
Roby, Scott Schwartz, Hayley
Sitron, Michael Sondheimer, Shelby
Wallach and Samantha Warsh.

Rite Of Passage

Ten women of Adat Shalom Synagogue will become bat mitzvah 9 a.m. Friday,
May 17, at Shavuot services. The b'not mitzvah are Susan Shacket, Debbie
Lederman, Helayne Kaplan, Lisa Shiffm an, Norma Dorman, Gail Fisher,
Lillian Schost.ak, Karen Lewis, Linda Warner and Cheryl Margolis.