At first glance, an agricultural festival marking the grain harvest may not have much to do with the experience of receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai. But our ancestors’ spiritual lives were deeply connected to the rhythms of the natural world and it made sense to weave together a time of pilgrimage to Jerusalem with this critical moment.

Fast-forward to 16th Century Tzfat in northern Israel where Rabbi Issac Luria and his band of mystics created Tikkun L’eil Shavuot, a ritual of staying up all night to study Torah. They believed that at midnight, the heavens would open to favorably receive their prayers. 

You can join a Tikkun hosted by one of the Jewish communities listed below or create your own late-night study and reflection session. Just click on the event name to connect and register.