Shavuot

Yesterday was Shavuot, the holiday that commemorates the giving of the torah. (Also agricultural stuff; all the festivals are dual-purpose that way.) There is a tradition to stay up all night studying torah; most people don't manage all night (I didn't), but for the third year in a row we had a community-wide study (tikkun leil shavuot) from 10PM to 1AM, and people who wanted more could go to their choice of a few congregations that were continuing.

I do regret the loss of my congregation's tikkun, which was a coordinated program led by my rabbi and usually going until about 2. But I'm glad to have the community-wide one, where rabbis from all over come and teach classes. It gives me a chance to study with people I would never encounter otherwise, and I strive to go to classes taught by people who are new to me. Sure, it's unpredictable, but it's an adventure. :-)

( Read more... )