Shavuot

The festival of Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai and encourages us to embrace the Torah’s teachings and be inspired by the wisdom Jewish tradition has to offer.

Shavuot is the Hebrew word for “weeks,” and the holiday occurs seven weeks after Passover. Shavuot, like many other Jewish holidays, began as an ancient agricultural festival that marked the end of the spring barley harvest and the beginning of the summer wheat harvest. In ancient times, Shavuot was a pilgrimage festival during which Israelites brought crop offerings to the Temple in Jerusalem. Today, it is a celebration of Torah, education, and the choice to participate actively in Jewish life. 

Tikkun L'Eil Shavuot  

THURSDAY | MAY 25 10:00 PM - 4:00 AM | IN PERSON AT ANSHE EMET

Anshe Emet Synagogue, 3751 N. Broadway, Chicago

Celebrate Shavuot with Temple Sholom at Anshe Emet Synagogue. Join us for a night of community learning and discussion on the topic of "Our Journey with Torah." The evening will include a Clergy Roundtable from 10:00 p.m. to 11:15 p.m., where you can hear from six different clergy members about the past and present of Torah study. Following the roundtable, there will be study sessions from 11:45 p.m. until 4:00 a.m., with a variety of topics led by session leaders from various partner synagogues and organizations.

In addition to the learning, there will be desserts and snacks available throughout the night. We are also partnering with Repair the World to hold a food drive, and there will be bins available for drop off at the event. 

Partner synagogues and organizations include Anshe Sholom B'nai Israel, Emanuel Congregation, Mishkan, Temple Sholom, BASE Lincoln Park, JCC Rose and Sydney N. Shure Kehillah Program, Keshet, Limmud, and Repair the World Chicago.

Session leaders include Rabbi David Wolkenfeld, David Schwartz, Shaily Hakimian, Rabbi D'ror Chankin-Gould, Rabbi Dr. Devorah Schoenfeld, Ranana Dine, Marsha Morman, Rachel Brustein, Dr. David Gottlieb, Maharat/ASBI Intern Sofia Freudenstein, Ilana Pond, Jacob Cytryn, and Jackie Maris.

Session topics include Halakhic Virtues, Grog and Groggers: The Origins of Purim Customs, An Open Debate - What makes Someone Jewish?, Isaac the Angel: Imagining Isaac's Death at the Akedah, "She Went and Drank:" Authority, Bodies, and Jewish Ethics, Remembering the Temple: Contemporary Ritual Sacrifice in Nepal, Qualitative and Quantitative Questions about the Jewish Community, How to Make a Jewish Memory (and why it matters), How to Relate to the Obligation of Revelation, Social Justice Shavuot: Immigration and Food, and On the Shoulders of Giants: Exploring LGBTQ+ Jewish History.

Please join us for a night of learning, community, and celebration of Shavuot.

The Clergy Roundtable event will be fully accessible with an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter present. We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible event for all attendees.

Shavuot Festival Service with Yizkor 

FRIDAY | MAY 26 | 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM | MIXED-PRESENCE

Join us at Emanuel Congregation, 5959 N Sheridan Rd, for a joyous Shavuot Festival Service, as we celebrate the giving of the Torah with prayers, hymns, and readings. During Yizkor, we remember our loved ones who have passed away and reflect on their legacy, offering prayers of gratitude and remembrance. All are welcome to share in this meaningful and uplifting experience. To watch this service online, visit http://5959online.com/.