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Why is it customary to remain awake all night on the first night of Shavuot?

by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg

  

Library » Holidays » Shavuot » Laws and Customs | Subscribe | What is RSS?

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On the day of the giving of the Torah, instead of rising at the crack of dawn, or earlier, to adequately prepare for the momentous event which was scheduled to take place, the Jewish People slept in. To make amends for this gaffe, we stay awake every year on Shavuot night. The synagogue lights burn the entire night, as Jews gather en masse to participate in a night of spiritual preparation.

Throughout the night we read the "Tikkun Leil Shavuot" (the Atonement for the Night of Shavuot). The Tikkun contains bits and pieces of all areas of the Torah: the Five Books of Moses, Prophets, Holy Writings, Mishnah, Zohar, the 613 commandments, and more. This really puts us in the proper frame of mind, ready to receive the Torah tomorrow morning, when the Ten Commandments are read from the Torah scroll.

The synagogue lights burn the entire night, as Jews gather en masse to participate in a night of spiritual preparation.
Others have the custom of simply studying Torah--any topic of interest--throughout the night.

At the stroke of dawn, many begin to pray Shacharit. Other communities, Chabad included, will snooze for several hours, and gather for prayer a little later in the morning. This: 1) gives the women and children the opportunity to attend and hear as the Ten Commandments are read from the Torah. 2) Gives everyone the opportunity to freshen themselves before prayer. Better to pray a little later... than to fall asleep on your prayer-book!


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Torah
Torah is G–d’s teaching to man. In general terms, we refer to the Five Books of Moses as “The Torah.” But in truth, all Jewish beliefs and laws are part of the Torah.
Chabad
Chabad, an acronym for Wisdom, Knowledge, and Understanding, is the name of a Chassidic Group founded in the 1770s. Two of the most fundamental teachings of Chabad are the intellectual pursuit of understanding the divine and the willingness to help every Jew who has a spiritual or material need.
Zohar
The most basic work of Jewish mysticism. Authored by Rabbi Shimeon bar Yochai in the 2nd century.
Moses
[Hebrew pronunciation: Moshe] Greatest prophet to ever live. Led the Jews out of Egyptian bondage amidst awesome miracles; brought down the Tablets from Mount Sinai; and transmitted to us word-for-word the Torah he heard from G-d's mouth. Died in the year 1272 BCE.
Shacharit
Morning prayer service. One of the three prayers a Jew is obligated to pray every day.
Shavuot
Early summer festival marking the day when the Jews received the Torah at Mount Sinai in the year 2448 (1312 BCE).
Mishnah
First written rendition of the Oral Law which G-d spoke to Moses. Rabbi Judah the Prince compiled the Mishna in the 2nd century lest the Oral law be forgotten due to the hardships of the Jewish exiles.