Community readies for Torah, cheesecake and coffee at Tikkun Leil Shavuot
“We’re doing one of the most fundamental things that Jews do together, which is to strengthen our identity and return to our primary source texts,”
Rabbi Danny Schiff knows not to tinker too much with a good thing.
Case in point: the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh’s annual Tikkun Leil Shavuot celebration, which takes place on June 11 beginning at 10 p.m.
Each year, the community gathers at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh in Squirrel Hill to learn from a bevy of teachers spanning the spectrum of denominations and leadership roles.
“My criteria for who teaches is not the title in front of their name, but can do they do a really good job and bring Torah to the community,” said Schiff, the Gefsky scholar for the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh, who organizes the event.
This year’s instructors include stalwarts like Rabbi Levi Langer and Danielle Kranjec as well as some new additions — the Chronicle’s Adam Reinherz will lead a session along with Rabbi Sharyn Henry of Rodef Shalom Congregation titled “Judaism is About Love: A Conversation About Rabbi Shai Held’s New Idea About Judaism.”
There are two changes this year. The first is slight: There will be an additional session offered during the 11 p.m. hour and one fewer at midnight. The second change is more significant.
More Orthodox women will lead sessions, which Schiff said will enhance the program.
When it was pointed out to him that there are Orthodox women in the community “who are outstanding teachers,” and that Orthodox women previously had not been included as instructors in the program, Schiff was determined to rectify that omission, he said.
A wide range of topics will be presented. Classes include: “The Role of Liturgical Poetry on Shavuot,” “The Afterlife,” “From Adam to Ruth: How it All Connects” and “Revelation, Torah and Resilience on Campus.”
Shavuot is one of the festivals that the Torah commands Jews to celebrate. The practice of studying Jewish texts erev Shavuot can be traced back to at least the 16th century.
There is no clear explanation of why cheesecake and other treats featuring dairy products, including blintzes, are consumed on the holiday, but many trace it back to the Torah and its description of Israel as a land “flowing with milk and honey.”
Some consider the holiday as the proper time to introduce children to Torah study. In Eastern Europe, there was a tradition of giving children between the ages of 3 and 5 honey so they would associate the study of Torah with sweetness.
Tikkun Leil Shavuot has become one of the Federation’s most popular events, enjoyed by hundreds who give up a few hours of sleep to study with other Jewish community members from across the city.
“If It’s not the largest Federation event of the year, then it’s in the top two,” Schiff said. “It’s always a competition — is Yom Ha’atzmaut bigger than Tikkun Leil Shavuot or the other way around?”
The program, he said, is popular both with attendees and teachers. So popular, in fact, that Schiff is unable to accommodate all those who wish to teach.
“If we simply allowed everybody to teach that wanted to teach, we might have 40 sessions or more, which would mean five or 10 people in each session, which wouldn’t be very satisfying,” he explained. “So, we limit the number of sessions.”
Like everything else since Oct. 7, this year’s celebration will occur beneath the shadow of Israel’s war with the terrorist group Hamas and the plight of the hostages still in Gaza.
Schiff said the evening offers the opportunity to find solidarity and comfort in the presence of others in the Jewish community.
“We’re doing one of the most fundamental things that Jews do together, which is to strengthen our identity and return to our primary source texts,” he said.
More information about Tikkun Leil Shavuot, including a list of sessions and instructors, can be found at jewishpgh.org/occasion/tikkun. PJC
David Rullo can be reached at drullo@pittsburghjewishchronicle.org.
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