Shavuot Schedule Announced

Join us for a Shavuot celebration full of learning, dinner, wine, snacks and good company. No registration needed; all are welcome!

TUESDAY, JUNE 11

TIKKUN LEIL SHAVUOT: THE LAND OF ISRAEL

7:00 p.m. Evening Service

 Location: Gorn Chapel

7:30 p.m. Shavuot dinner

Location: Myers Auditorium

8:15 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Learning Session 1

Dr. Eyal and Dr. Hana Bor: Jews Belong to Israel Just as Israel Belongs to the Jews; Land is an Expression of Identity

It can be said that Jews belong to Israel just as Israel belongs to the Jews; Land is an expression of identity. We will explore the connection between the chag of Shavuot and the Jewish State as we look at the past, present and future. How do 120,000 Israeli evacuees feel about living away from their land? Do they have a future and options? Let’s find out together.

9:15 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Learning Session 2

Rabbi Naomi Zaslow: Eretz Yisrael Through the Eyes of Exile

We’ll embark on an exploration of the tensions between the comforts of diaspora life and the sacred allure of the land of Israel. In this class, we’ll delve into the rich tapestry of Talmudic and Rabbinic texts, uncovering the nuanced perspectives on living outside the promised land. We’ll navigate the complex interplay between the biblical ideal of Israel as holy, and the pragmatic realities of diaspora existence. Join us as we grapple with timeless questions of identity, belonging, and longing, seeking wisdom and insight in the ancient words of our sages. 

Ben Kreshtool: In pursuit of the Divine; a search for the Ark of the Covenant

Let’s jump into the fascinating speculation surrounding the location of the Ark of the Covenant. From the Biblical to the modern, we will explore the various theories that have emerged over the years in an attempt to solve the age-old mystery of where it may be hidden today.

10:30 p.m. – 10:45 p.m. Learning Session 3

Rabbi Steven Schwartz: Jerusalem in Heaven and on Earth – Sacred Space or Sacred Spaces?

The tradition has long explored the idea of two Jerusalems = one that exists in this world, and one that exists in the heavenly realm. In a way the two Jerusalems echo one another – what happens in one may have ramifications in the other. But also the heavenly Jerusalem is often used as a metaphor for the kind of city we hope Jerusalem will one day be – a place of peace, where God’s presence is felt each and every day. What can we learn about today’s Jerusalem as we explore rabbinic sources that connect the heavenly and earthly ideas of the most important city in Jewish life?

10:45 p.m. – 11:15 p.m. Learning Session 4

Rebbetzin Matthew Lowe: May the Place (AKA God) Comfort You

Our siddur calls God a lot of things — Father, King, Shepherd, Rock, Shepherd and…The Place?!

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12Shavuot Day 1 10:00 a.m. Morning Service  Location: Gorn Chapel 6:00 p.m. Evening Service Location: Virtual (Zoom)

THURSDAY, JUNE 13

Shavuot Day 2

10:00 a.m. Morning Service with Yizkor service

Location: Gorn Chapel

6:45 p.m. Evening Service

Location: Virtual (Zoom)