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Shavuot 2021

Shavuot Schedule - Sunday, May 16th

In-Person/Outdoors Learning and Prayer Opportunities

5:45pm - 7:00pm at Bnai Keshet: Shavuot Study Sessions - RSVP Required

Join us for simultaneous in-person sessions led by representatives from Shomrei Emunah, Bnai Keshet, Temple Ner Tamid, and Temple Sholom of West Essex.
 
Workshop Selection
  • Lifting Up Our Voices in Ecstatic Celebration w/ Cantor Meredith Greenberg & Rabbi Ariann Weitzman
  • The Mountain Meditation led by Andy Steinfeld
  • Study on the Book of Ruth with Rabbinic Intern Lily Lucey

7:15pm at Bnai Keshet: Festival Maariv Evening Service with Yizkor - RSVP Required

7:30pm at Shomrei Emunah: Festival Maariv Evening Service - RSVP Required

Virtual Learning Opportunities

9pm Sessions: 

"Sacred Space and Sacred Community" with Rabbi Ariann Weitzman 
 
How do our sacred spaces define our communities? Can sacred communities be created without fixed spaces to sanctify? Why does being in the synagogue itself matter so much to many of us? What about if it doesn't matter? We will study traditional Jewish sources on the sanctity of communal spaces and reflect on a year spent creating sacred space virtually. 
 
 
"Can We See God?" with Rabbi Laurence Groffman 
 
What are we to make of texts that lead us to be believe that we can see God? If we actually could see God, would we want to, and why? 
 
Meeting ID: 980 4508 9537 
Passcode: Shavuot 
 
"The Voices of Torah - Shouts and Whispers" with Rabbi David Greenstein 
 
The revelation at Mount Sinai was through thundering voices. We will explore some traditional texts that highlight the significance of whispering as a feature of revealing Torah. Please note: this session will be pre-recorded and will be available that evening at: http://shomrei.org/voices 
 
For a live recording people can join the live zoom of “Kosher Salt,” Wednesday, May 12, at 2 PM :
http://shomrei.org/salt

 

10:00pm Sessions:

"Mystery or History? Fact or Fable?" with Rabbi Norman Patz 
 
We have learned to treat Torah texts as the narrative of the relationship of the Israelites to God rather than as historical reports. Yet the historical references that do appear are tantalizing, provoking real historical investigation. We will look at a number of these, culminating in one I describe as being “on the road to Sinai”:  Leaving Egypt, the Israelites faced many obstacles obstructing their journey. One, which is described as a miracle in the biblical account, can now be understood in new ways owing to an event of our own day. 
 
Meeting ID: 992 8084 6309 
Passcode: Shavuot 
 
"Can Sins Ever be for a Greater Good?" with Rabbi Marc Katz 
 
Rabbinic literature has a category of law known as averot l’shem shemayim, sins for the sake of heaven. In a way these actions fall into a category of what philosophers call the “problem of dirty hands.” Sometimes for the sake a greater cause, we have to make morally problematic choices.  Come learn about these cases and see if you agree. 
 
Meeting ID: 969 7880 3097 
Passcode: Shavuot 
 
"Inclusion in Our Words and Non-Binary Hebrew" with Cantor Kenneth Feibush 
 
The traditional version of our prayers typically use masculine conjugations to represent everyone and everything. Over time, we added the matriarchs and feminine options in our texts to reflect our evolving theology. Our session will discuss the current trends in Hebrew, and how our prayers can continue to include our whole community. 
 
Meeting ID: 966 6045 9831 
Passcode: Shavuot 
Fri, May 9 2025 11 Iyyar 5785