There is one rather quaint explanation given for the origin of the tikkun leil. According to midrashic legend, the Israelites wanted to get a good night’s rest before the momentous occasion of the revelation at Sinai. But they overslept on the big day and were not ready for the descent of the Divine Presence on the mountain. So in order to make up for their drowsy ancestors, the pious undertook to stay up all night to honour the Torah.
In the Haggadah, we read of the five sages discussing the Exodus all night till the time for morning prayers. But the practice of tikkun leil seems to begin with the Kabbalists in the Renaissance period: Rabbi Shlomo Alkabetz, author of the Friday night hymn Lecha Dodi, recorded studying Torah through the night with Rabbi Yosef Caro, author of the Shulchan Aruch, Code of Jewish Law.
It became traditional to study a set of extracts from the different books of the Tanach during the night-long session. But rather than follow a particular curriculum, synagogues today often adapt the event, devising their own programmes.
The tikkun leil recognises that learning Torah is a collective enterprise. The lonely scholar burning the midnight oil at his desk was not a definitive image for us. A tikkun leil is a celebration of a shared heritage, of the fellowship of Torah.
For the last few years Radlett Reform Synagogue has come together with other Progressive communities in London and the Home Counties for its tikkun leil. For this year’s event, hosted by Edgware and Hendon Reform, the number of participating communities has grown to eight.
“It has been picking up momentum from year to year,” said Radlett’s senior rabbi Paul Freedman. “Last year we had over 100 when it was at Radlett. It has become an established occasion. The important thing is whichever community is hosting it, it is bigger than the host community. It’s a celebration of Torah and community, an opportunity to come together and do something joyful.”
Opening with a service led by “a bimah-full of clergy”, it will move on to supper, followed by a programme until shacharit at dawn. “It will start with a choice of three sessions, go down to two later and then it’s just the hardy few who do the last session together,” he explained.
The full programme on the theme of Journeys to Responsibility (published on the website shavuot.uk) includes crafts and music as well as Torah study along the lines of Limmud. And people do not have to arrive at the start, they can join when they can.
“One person who signed up said they’d be coming along after dinner when they have put the kids to bed,” he said. “I remember years ago a GP who was on call at night having to go but coming back at 4 in the morning, imagining would be no one left, to find there were still people there.”
Three Essex synagogues will also be pooling resources for a collaborative tikkun leil on Thursday night, while on Shabbat, Nottingham Liberal Synagogue will be welcoming other Progressive communities from central England for a day of learning. For those unable to make an event in person, Rabbi Elli Tikvah Sarah will be joined by colleagues for a virtual Voices for Prophetic Judaism tikkun which runs till after midnight.
Rabbi Josh Levy, co-Lead of the Movement for Progressive Judaism, observed that Shavuot events were a “great reflection” of the kind of opportunities for collaboration that have been increased by the formation of the movement.
“Shavuot has always had an important place in our Progressive Jewish calendar and I am delighted to see it growing in such a vibrant and meaningful way,” he said.
Summer bouquet. Beautiful multi colored fresh flower arrangement. Birthday bouquet made of summer flowers photographed outdoors.Getty Images
The United Synagogue’s chief communications officer Richard Verber commented: “Shavuot is about much more than cheesecake and the huge range of learning and social programmes taking place across our communities showcases the best of the United Synagogue.
“There is also a particular focus on women’s education and family programming. While many shuls are offering a tikkun leil, leaders also recognise that not everyone is able to stay up until three o’clock in the morning and so there are opportunities to learn in an inclusive atmosphere during the daytime as well.”
Childwall in Liverpool, a US shul, will be teaming up with neighbouring Allerton for “a festive meal and tikkun leil learning” with visiting scholar Rabbi Michael Pollak. In south London, Richmond’s Rabbi Chaim Golker will be exploring the ethics of doctors’ strikes at a post-service sushi and cheesecake kiddush on the first night of the festival.
Edgware Synagogue is running special programmes for both youth and for students and young professionals on the first night as well as a range of Shabbat events on the second day of Yom Tov that include ice-cream in the park for families.
Women-only readings of Megillat Ruth, the biblical book associated with the festival, have been catching on and Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue will be staging its first on Friday. On the second day Hampstead Synagogue will hold a lunch to celebrate its neshei chayil, women who contribute to the community.
Mill Hill East, one of the newest US communities, organises members to deliver flowers to fellow-congregants, bringing a touch of festive simchah into each other’s homes.
