Learning on the Night of
Shavuot
Q: Is there an obligation to
learn the entire night of Shavuot?
A: No. But it is a proper custom. Someone who is unable should try to learn
until midnight (Magen Avraham, Orach Chaim 494).
Q: Which is preferable –
learning all night and falling asleep during Shacharit or going to sleep?
A: Going to sleep. Davening Shacharit without falling asleep is
a basic halachah, and learning all night is a worthwhile addition.
Q: Which is preferable –
learning during the night, or learning during the day, if I will learn more
during the day?
A: During the day, since
learning more Torah is a basic halachah, and learning Torah all night on
Shavuot is a worthwhile addition (This is unlike the ruling of Ha-Rav Chaim
Kanvieski that the custom is to learn all night, and it is preferable to learn
during the night even if one learns less than he would have during the
day. Piskei Shemuot, pp. 81-82. Although Ha-Rav
Yitzchak Zev Soloveitchik, the Brisker Rav, was surprised that people are so
particular to stay awake the entire night of Shavuot, which is a custom, while
on Pesach night, where there is a law to discuss the Exodus from Egypt until
one is overcome by sleep, people are not so careful. And in the city of Brisk, people were not
careful to follow the custom of staying awake the entire night of Shavuot,
since why is this night different from all other night? And also, learning on Shavuot night is not
more important than learning during the day. Uvdot Ve-Hanhagot Le-Beit Brisk
vol. 2, p. 79).
Q: I heard that
it is forbidden to engage in idle chatter on the night of Shavuot?
A: It is not a
prohibition, but it is proper, and one should try as much as possible to
refrain (Kaf Ha-Chaim 494:11).
Q: Is one obligated
to learn the Tikun Leil Shavuot?
A: No. A person should learn Torah in a subject that
his heart desires (Avodah Zarah 19a. And
Ha-Rav Chaim Kanievski said that there are different customs, each of which is
acceptable. Piskei Shemuot, p. 81).
Q: If one's
father says the Tikun, should his son also say the Tikun, or is it permissible
to learn Gemara?
A: It is a
personal decision (Ha-Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv said: "It is better for
him to learn Massechet Baba Metzia, Perek Ha-Socher Et Ha-Po'alim [One who
hires workers], and even if his father says the Tikun." And Ha-Rav Chaim Kanievski said: "If his
father says the Tikun, he should also say the Tikun". Yadoon Moshe vol. 9 #59).
Q: Do women also
need to learn all night?
A: They are not
obligated, but it is certainly a good thing.
Milchigs
Q: Is there an
obligation to eat Milchigs on Shavuot?
A: It is the
Custom. Yemenite Jews do not do so
(Shulchan Aruch Ha-Mekutzar, p. 72).
Q: Does one have
to eat an entire Milchig meal?
A: It is enough
to have one dairy food. And it is then
possible to wash out one's mouth, wash one's hands and clean the table, and
have a Fleischig meal (Or Le-Tzion 3:196.
And the Steipler Gaon would only have a Milchig meal at night. Orchot Rabbenu vol. 1, p. 98).
Early Davening on
Shavuot
Q: Can one daven
Maariv early on Shavuot, or is it a problem because one needs 7 complete weeks
of Sefirat Ha-Omer?
A: Ashkenazim – No, Sefardim are lenient (Mishneh Berurah 414:1. Shut Yechaveh Daat 6:30).
