Tikkun Leil Shavuot 2024 – a Night of Learning

What is Tikkun Leil Shavuot?

The practice of staying up all Shavuot night to study Torah – known as Tikkun Leil Shavuot (“Rectification for Shavuot Night”) – is based on a Midrash that the night before the Israelites were supposed to receive the Torah, they went to sleep early so they would be well-rested for the momentous day ahead. As luck would have it, they overslept and Moses had to wake them up, because Hashem was already waiting on the mountaintop (Shir Hashirim Rabbah 1:57). To rectify this perceived flaw in the national character, many Jews stay up all night to learn Torah.

When Did the Custom Start?

The custom of all-night Torah study goes back to 1533 when Rabbi Joseph Caro, author of the Shulchan Aruch, then living in Ottoman Salonika, invited Rabbi Shlomo Halevi Alkabetz and other Kabbalistic colleagues to hold Shavuot-night study vigils for which they prepared for three days in advance, just as the Israelites had prepared for three days before the giving of the Torah. During one of those study sessions, an angel appeared and taught them Jewish law.

Where will the learning take place in Ashkelon?

Many shuls and Yeshivot throughout Ashkelon will have different Hebrew shiurim — some lasting until morning. Central Synagogue of Afridar will have both Hbrew and English programs. Their Hebrew program includes: 10:30 – 11:15 Dr. Shai Mamo and .11:30 – 12:30 Rav Geva Raph. See below for the Central Synagogue of Afridar English language program.

English language shiurim will be taking place for men and women at the Central Synagogue of Afridar (2 Yehezkel Sonabend St.), Masorti Congregation Netzach Israel (8 Harel Street) and Beit Yitzchak David (20 Yefe Nof St.) Download their PDF.

The Shiurim

Central Synagogue of Afridar

2 Yehezkel Sonabend St.

The Central Synagogue of Afridar was dedicated in 1959. The building was designed, funded and built by the South African Jewish community. It is the largest Ashkenaz Orthodox shul in Ashkelon. The grounds are fenced in and children play in the courtyard outside the shul or in the large park (the magnificent Desha Hagadol). The shul is located in Afridar, about a six-minute walk from HaShayetet/HaTayasim streets and about 12 minutes from Modiin/Yefe Nof streets. It is a popular choice for English speakers from the US, Canada, South Africa and the UK.

The shiurim will be given in English to men and women and light refreshments will be served.

There will be a 10-minute break between each shiur.

10:30 PM – 11:15 PM “The Moral Response to Radical Evil” – Just War Theory and Milhemet Amalek — Rabbi Dr. Mois Navon
11:25 PM – 12:00 AM “Parsha Slam — Sefer Bereishit” — 12 Parshiot in 12 minutes
12:10 AM – 12:30 AM “Was Torah only received at Sinai?” — Eitan Horwitz

The program will end by 12:30 AM

“The Moral Response to Radical Evil” – Just War Theory and Milhemet Amalek — Rabbi Dr. Mois Navon

Time: 10:30 PM – 11:15 PM

In the shadow of the barbaric massacre committed by Palestinian terrorists in Israel on October 7, 2023, we must ask how to respond – morally – to radical evil. This is critical because, while our enemies have lost their humanity we must not lose ours in our battle against them. Using the rules of war against Amalek, the biblical paradigm of radical evil, I demonstrate how these rules also conform to the internationally accepted principles of Just War Theory – and not “Genocide” as is cynically applied.

“Parsha Slam — Sefer Bereishit” — 12 Parshiot in 12 minutes

The Parsha Slam, organized by Tali Frank Horwitz, is being presented by a cast of 11, for the first time in Ashkelon. Presenters will cover one idea from each Parsha — whether speaking, in rhyme, singing or drama but within 60 seconds!

Time 11:25 PM – 12:00 AM

Alan Miller, Alison Epstein, Beth Newmark, Eitan Horwitz, Gary Swickley, Howard Brown, Ilana Lent, Mirah Halpern, Renana Klein, Stephen Epstein, Tali Frank Horwitz.

Was Torah only received at Sinai? — Eitan Horwitz

Rabbinic views on when the Torah was received.

Time 12:10 AM – 12:30 AM

Tzohar has created a booklet for Shavuot: From Simchat Torah to the Giving of the Torah

This is not a presentation, it is Tzohar’s collection of English essays. We encourage people to pick up a copy and read it on Shavuot. There will be limited quantities available for participants. If you want a digital version, you can register here to receive a free PDF.

The collection includes submissions by Israeli personalities providing inspirational and educational Torah-themed content through the lens of the nation’s ongoing war and the collective emotions of our post-October 7th world.

Masorti Congregation Netzach Israel

8 Harel Street, Afridar

The Kehillat Netzach Israel grew in numbers, building a multi-ethnic membership including many English speakers. The Masorti shul offers an egalitarian, pluralistic and family-orientated approach to Judaism. Kehillat Netzach Israel is an active congregation with a wide range of social and educational programs with Jewish content, reaching out into the wider community. Rabbi Tsvi Arberman is the rabbi of the congregation.

The program starts at 7:30 PM with Tfillat Ma’ariv.
Dairy dessert 8:00 PM.
Tikkun Leil Shavuot 8:15 PM.
Ends at 9:30 PM

Faith in Crisis: As a Driven Leaf

All of us, even the most dedicated Jews, are subject to rises of faith , brought on by the vicissitudes of life, or events outside of our personal sphere. In this session, we’ll explore this phenomenon, see what the sources have to say about it, and have an opportunity to share our own experiences.

Sessions available in Hebrew and English.

Facilitators are Rabbi Tsvi (Paul) Arberman and Rabbi Don Levy

Bios of Speakers

Many thanks to all of the organizers of these shiurim, especially Tali Frank Horwitz, Jonty Zwebner and Rabbi Don Levy. We’d like to say thank you to the wonderful roster of speakers and parsha “slammers”, who are giving their time and sharing their knowledge with us for this year’s Tikkun Leil Shavuot.

Rabbi Tsvi (Paul) Arberman was born and raised in New York City. Before deciding on a vocation in the rabbinate, he worked as a congressional aide for then-Rep. Schumer in Washington, DC. After studies at Machon Schechter in Jerusalem, he was ordained a Masorti (Conservative) Rabbi and served communities in Netanya, Modi’in and Florida USA before coming to Netzach Israel in Ashkelon.

Eitan Horwitz made Aliyah from the USA at the age of 17. He served in an IDF Special Ops unit and does Miluim till today. Eitan volunteered with the Israel Police for over 20 years and rose to the rank of Chief Inspector. His love of the land and history led him to become a licensed Israel tour guide. Eitan, who has a B.Sc. in Computer Science from CUNY, is also a Software Engineer when not trekking through the Land of Israel. Living with his wife Tali in Ashkelon, they have five wonderful children and 4 grandchildren, who live from the North to the South of Israel.

Rabbi Don Levy was born in New York city and grew up in South Florida. He served as a US Navy cryptologist until receiving a calling to the rabbinate. Studying at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, after ordination, he served as a chaplain in the US Air Force. After retiring from the US military, he worked as a congregational rabbi in Colorado, USA and Queensland, Australia, before making Aliyah and moving to Ashkelon.

Rabbi Dr. Mois Navon is one of the founding engineers of Mobileye, where he designed the EyeQ family of SoC (System On a Chip) – the chip powering the autonomous vehicle revolution. He holds a B.S. degree in computer engineering from UCLA, an M.A. degree in Jewish Philosophy from Bar Ilan University and has rabbinic ordination through Yeshivat Mercaz Harav. Working at the intersection of Torah U’Madda, Mois just received his PhD at the Department of Jewish Philosophy at Bar Ilan University, where his thesis applied Jewish philosophy to address the ethical questions arising in the field of artificial intelligence. In this vein, he teaches a course on “Ethics in Big Data and Artificial Intelligence” at Ben Gurion University. His work can be found at www.divreinavon.com.