Tuesday, May 30
8:30-9pm: Erev Shavuot Services
9pm-12am: Tikkun Leil Shavuot & Dessert
Tikkun Leil Shavuot Speakers:
Jean Kravitz: “My Lehi Fighter: Why there never was a Stern Gang.” Jean has befriended a former Lehi Fighter, Mordechai Kalminov, who has been her teacher on the birth of the State of Israel.
Fred Reiss: “The Jewish Calendar Up Close: How long does it take for the Jewish calendar to repeat?” Fred has recently published a new book, The Jewish Calendar: History and Inner Workings.
Rabbi Shalom Podwol: “Faith, Doubt, Indignation: Readings of Contemporary Jewish Poets of Israel and North America:”
Mike Mymon: “The Priestly Blessings: The oldest blessing in continuous use from Biblical time to Star Trek.”
Alan Cortez: “The Nephilim: The Strangest Legend in the Torah? How the myth of the giants persisted in relation to Canaan and infertility.”
Ahuva Ho: “Growing up Jewish in 16th-century Spain. Leading up to the forced conversions in Portugal. The story of one Jewish family and one community in Zamora, Spain.” A reading from her historical novel on the life of a converse of 16th century Spain.
Rabbi Ariel Sholklapper: “Mitzvot as Mindfulness.”
Rabbi Elie Spitz: “Sleepless: Coffee and the Origins of Tikkun Leil Shavuot.”
Wednesday, May 31
9:30am Shavuot Service followed by a Kiddush luncheon
Thursday, June 1
9:30am Shavuot Service with Yizkor and the chanting of the Book of Ruth followed by a Kiddush luncheon
What exactly is Shavuot and why do we celebrate it?
Biblically, this holiday marks the beginning of the wheat harvest in Israel. Later, in rabbinic times, it became known as the anniversary of Revelation of Sinai. The pairing of the two is fitting: Wheat is the primary ingredient for bread, which is a life-sustaining food for our bodies. The study of Torah and all the literature that it has spawned is nourishment for our minds and souls. We need both in order to live healthy, balanced lives. Join us as we celebrate the Torah – God’s love-letter to the Jewish people.