31 May REMAINING AWAKE ON SHAVUOS NIGHT

There is a widespread custom to remain awake on Shavuos night to learn Torah. This custom spawns many halachic queries. Why should we stay up learning on Shavuos night? What should be learned? Should one learn the tikun leil Shavuos? How do we deal with washing hands, birchas hashachar, birchas hatorah, and other halachos which can come up on this wonderful night?

Remaining Awake and Reasons

It is the custom of most of klal yisroel to remain awake the entire night of Shavuos and learn Torah. One reason is that klal yisroel were sleeping the night before the acceptance of the Torah, and Hashem had to awake them in order to accept the Torah. Therefore, we have to rectify that by remaining awake Some say that one who stays awake on Shavuos night and learns Torah the entire time is guaranteed that he will live out his year and suffer no harm. Others guarantee a blessing for children who are scholarly and other benefits. Some say that one should be careful and not sleep even a bit at night. Many say that it is very beneficial to nap on Erev Shavuos in order to remain awake on Shavuos night. In order to learn the most time possible, one should go to the bais medrash immediately after the seuda.

Staying Awake Part of the Night

Although many have the custom to remain awake the night of Shavuos, many do not have the strength to do so. The same is true for people who feel that if they are awake all night, they will not daven properly. The opinion of the poskim is that there is a point in staying up and learning any amount of time that one can on the night of Shavuos.If it is possible one should try to remain awake at least most of the night, or at least until chatzos. Those who cannot daven properly without a proper amount of sleep do not have to remain awake on Shavuos night. Some say that even if one will be able to learn more hours by day, he should still remain awake on Shavuos night.

Children

There is no need for a child to remain awake the entire Shavuos night, but if he wishes to do so he may. Children who disturb the adults from learning should not be brought to shul.

Actions

Since remaining awake the entire night is of extreme importance, one should be careful not to sit idly around and engage in mindless

chitchat or frivolity. One who does so would be better off to go to sleep. The learningshould be done with great joy.

Second Night – Chutz L’aretz

Some poskim bring the custom to remain awake learning Torah the second night of Shavuos as well as the first. Some explain that there is an opinion that holds the Torah was given on the seventh day of Sivan. The custom of most people is to only remain awake the first night, but one should still learn a bit on the second night.

Tikun Leil Shavuos or Other Topics

The custom of many people is to recite tikun leil Shavuos on the night of Shavuos. There are many reasons given for this.

There is a well-known story involving the Dubner Maggid and his rebbe the G’ra. On Shavuos night, the G’ra recited the tikun leil Shavuos, and the Dubner Maggid started learning other things. The Gr’a asked him, “Why are you not reciting the tikun?” True to form, the Dubner Maggid responded with a parable. “There was once a young married boy who was not learning. His father in-law decided not to support him anymore, and told him to go to work. The son-in-law asked him how he is supposed to earn a living. The father-in-law advised him go to other merchants to see how they sell their goods, and you should do the same. The son-in-law went to the market and saw signs hanging on top of the stores advertising their wares. He hung signs at his own establishment, but did not stock merchandise in the store. The father-in-law said, “You fool! This is not how you sell merchandise. If you only have a sign then you will not make any money.” The tikun only contains the first and last part of every parsha and Mishnah; it is like a sign which advertises merchandise. Since you (the Rebbe) have the entire Torah inside you can learn the tikun and show a sample of the Torah that you have. I have no Torah inside me. Therefore, I need to learn to get as much merchandise as possible”.

Some say the tikun should be said with a minyan; however, others say the custom is that each one says it himself. Some say the tikun was made for people who do not know how to learn. Many people do not learn the tikun leil Shavuos but learn whatever their heart desires. Those who have the cu tom to say the tikun should do so before learning other things. One should keep his custom regarding saying the tikun. Some say that one should make Torah Sheba’al Peh his main focus on the night of Shavuos.

Halachos Applicable Throughout the Night

Drinking Coffee –Many people drink coffee or tea in order to remain awake during the night. When making a beracha on the first cup he should have in mind that this beracha will exempt any other beverage that he will drink throughout the night (in the same bais medrash), and at the end of the night one should drink a shiur that would require a beracha achrona (approx 3.5 ounces). Others say that one should recite a boreh nefashos after each cup (if one drank enough coffee in the allotted time) and recite another beracha on any additional coffee or tea. The custom of most people is like the first opinion.

Eating and Drinking Until When?

The Gemorah prohibits eating and drinking before davening based on a posuk which states, “You shall not eat over the blood.” One of the interpretations given for this is that one should not eat before davening for his blood. The Gemorah further states that eating and drinking before reciting krias shema is an act of haughtiness. Tending to one’s own physical well being before fulfilling his obligation to declare malchus shomayim is tantamount to declaring that Hashem’s sovereignty over the world is secondary.

The prohibition of eating and drinking starts from a half-hour before also hashachar. If one began to eat before this time, he may continue until alos hashachar. Some are of the opinion that one should not eat if he awoke after chatzos, unless it is necessary for tefilla. Drinking is permitted according to this view until alos hashachar.

The minhag does not seem to be in accordance with this opinion, and one may eat after chatzos.

Learning Mikra at Night

Many people get tired of learning Gemorah all night and want to learn portions of the Torah. Is this permitted?

The Medrash says that Moshe Rabbeinu knew it was day when Hashem taught him mikra and knew it was night when Hashem taught him the Mishnah and Gemorah. Some say we see from here that one should not read mikra at night. Additionally, based on the writings of kabbalah, one should not say mikra at night. Some say the reason is because learning mikrah at night arouses the midah of din. One who does read mikrah at night did not do any issur. If one read the pesukim with targum there is certainly no problem.

Many poskim say that reading tehillim is permitted and is not included in this inyan at all. Others only permit this after chatzos.Some say that it is permitted to read a posuk for rachamim (and not limud).

It is permitted to be maaver sedra at night if one reads a commentary with the pesukim. A chumash shiur may be given at night since one is explaining the words and not just reading them. Reciting pesukim at a vacht nacht is permitted. One may say mikrah on leil Shabbos, Motzei Shabbos, leil Yom Tov, leil Chol Hamoed, and leil Yom Kippur. One is permitted to recite pesukim which are customarily recited at krias shema al hamittah since they have to do with the nighttime. A ba’al koreh may prepare for laining at night. One who has a seder halimud every day in t’nach and did not finish learning before night may finish the seder at night. Some permit saying mikra during bein ha’shmashos.

Learning without a Chavrusa

Most people prefer to learn with a chavrusa all night long on Shavuos night, while others learn alone. The Gemorah says that one should not learn alone. This concept is brought in halacha as well. Some say that this applies only when there were no seforim or commentaries to help in understanding the Gemorah. However, since today there are many seforim and commentaries, there is nothing wrong with learning alone. One who will learn better without a chavrusa is permitted to learn alone. In Eretz Yisroel one can learn alone according to all opinions because the air of Eretz Yisroel makes a person smart.

Going to Sleep Before and After Alos

Hashachar

Krias shema al hamitah and hamapil are only recited when one sleeps at night. One who wishes to fall asleep before alos hashachar should recite krias shema al hamitah beforehand, and the beracha of hamapil. There is a sofek in the poskim whether to recite krias shema al hamitah if one goes to sleep before alos hashachar and will fall asleep after alos hashachar.

Washing Hands in the Morning

There are two opinions in the Rishonim as to why we wash our hands in the morning upon awakening. The opinion of the Rosh is that our hands move while we sleep and come in contact with covered parts of the body. The Rashba holds that when we awake in the morning we are considered like new creatures, and we have to thank Hashem for this. One method of thanks is washing our hands, much as the Kohanim did in the Bais Hamikdosh before their avodah. An additional reason for washing is that the ruach ra’ah which rests on the hands during the night is not removed until one washes his hands in the morning.

The question arises whether one must wash his hands if he was awake all night. According to the first opinion, there is no need to wash, since one knows that he did not make any contact with an unclean part of his body. According to the Rashba, since he did not go to sleep he is not considered a new person. Furthermore, there is an uncertainty if the ruach ra’ah comes upon the hands if one does not sleep.

Based on the above, the poskim offer a number of options: Some say one should wash his hands three times (every other hand) but should not recite the bracha. Others say that one can recite a beracha in any event, since the chachamim established that one has to wash his hands in the morning; therefore, there is no difference whether he slept or not. The Mishnah Berurah and others advise that one should use to the bathroom and then wash his hands. It is permitted to recite a beracha on this washing. Some say to hear the

beracha of “al netiylas yadayim” from someone who slept. Some suggest touching a dirty place before davening, while others feel that this is not helpful.

One who slept a long time at night would wash his hands and recite a beracha, but one who slept less than a half hour (i.e. in shul on his arms, or in his seat even for a long time) is viewed as not having slept at all in regard to the halachos of netiylas yadayim.

One who slept at the beginning of the night and awoke should wash his hands upon arising. Before davening he should use the bathroom and then he can recite a beracha on the washing according to all opinions.

One who slept at night and awoke before alos hashachar may be required to wash his hands with a beracha, but once alos hashachar arrives he should wash his hands again without a beracha. Alternatively, he should use the bathroom and then wash his hands and recite an “al netiylas yadayim”.

When to Wash Hands

Some say that one should wash his hands right when alos hashachar arrives to remove the ruach ra’ah. However, the custom is that we do not interrupt learning in order to wash our hands. Rather, we wash before davening. Some explain that it is questionable whether we need to wash at all. Therefore, we are lenient and do not require the washing immediately at alos hashachar. There is no need to make sure to have the water next to you in order not to walk four amos without washing your hands. Furthermore, one may touch his clothing or eyes before this washing.

Learning Before Alos Hashachar

Rashi[106] is of the opinion that one is not allowed to learn before davening. However, the poskim say one is permitted to learn (on Shavuos night) if he davens with a minyan, since he will not forget about davening because of his learning. Some are lenient in any case to learn before davening. One who does not daven with a minyan must appoint a shomer to remind him to daven before he can begin learning. A shiur may be given before davening even if one does not daven at a set minyan.

Sleeping

One who was up an entire night may not go to sleep a half hour before alos hashachar. If he appoints someone to wake him up (shomer) to daven then it is permitted. If one slept during the night but woke up to tend to his personal needs, he may go back to sleep even if it is a half hour before alos hashachar, since it is considered a continuation of his sleep.

Asher Yotzar

Asher yotzar is recited in the morning, even if one did not use the bathroom. Since he slept, he is considered a new creature when awakening, and must thank Hashem for this. One may recite asher yotzar if he used the bathroom, even if he was awake the entire night.

Elokay Neshama

Some say that elokay neshama may not be recited if one did not sleep, since his neshama was not returned to him. Others explain that upon awakening we are made into a new creature and we thank Hashem for this by reciting elokay neshama, but if one did not sleep no beracha can be recited. One should hear this beracha from someone else. The same applies to hamaver sheina…. No amen should be said until after hagomel chassadim…. since it is all one beracha. One who wishes to say elokay neshama should do so without mentioning the name of Hashem.

Birchas Hashachar – Eighteen Berochos

Even if one is awake all night he should recite berochos of birchas hashachar (custom of the Ashkenazim), except for hamaver sheina and elokay nishama as mentioned above. However, the custom is that a person who slept recites them and those who remained awake are yotzei with him. It is unclear why this is so since those who were awake can say these berachos as well.

If One Slept

One who slept at night for the duration of a sixty breaths (half hour) may recite the birchas hashachar. This is even if he slept on his arms. However, these rules do not apply to birchas hatorah (see later on).

Tzitzis

One who wears a tallis kattan and does not take it off may not be obligated to recite a beracha on it in the morning. To remove all doubt, one should listen to a person reciting a beracha on a tallis gadol and have in mind to exempt his tallis kattan from a beracha.

Earliest Time for Tzitzis

The earliest time to recite the beracha on tzitzis is when one can tell the difference between blue and white; this is known as “mi’sheyaker”. One who recited the beracha after alos hashachar was yotzei. Nonetheless, one should really try to avoid this and recite the beracha at the time of mi’sheyaker. There are a variety of opinions as to how much before neitz hachama is the time of mi’sheyaker. Some say it is an hour, others say fifty-two minutes. Harav Moshe Feinstein zt”l and others said it is between thirty-five to forty minutes before neitz hachama.

Birchas Hatorah

One of the biggest questions which arise on Shavuos morning is whether one who did not sleep may recite birchas hatorah. This will be dealt with at length below. The halacha states that one who slept after reciting birchas hatorah in the morning is required to recite birchas hatorah upon awakening (we will not discuss the halachic ramifications of a daytime nap). Some say that one who is awake all night is not required to recite this beracha since there was no hefsek (i.e. of sleep) from the beracha which was recited in the morning. Others maintain that this beracha was instituted to be recited every day, and accordingly a new beracha should be recited even if one did not go to sleep.

Some poskim advise to do any of the following: 1. Listen to the beracha from someone else who had a proper sleep at night. The one who recites the beracha should have in mind to exempt the listener, and the listener should have in mind to be exempt. The listener should answer amen (except for the beracha “la’asok”) and say the accustomed pesukim afterwards, 2. If one slept on Erev Shavuos (see below) he can say ahavah rabbah at maariv and learn a bit right after davening. 3. Sleep during the day (Erev Shavuos) for at least a half hour (even in his clothes) on a bed. As long as he did not learn immediately after maariv he may recite birchos hatorah the next morning. 4. Have in mind while saying ahavah rabbah at shacharis to be yotzei birchas hatorah and learn a bit after davening. 5. Some say that one can have in mind when saying birchas hatorah on Erev Shavuos that the beracha will only cover his learning until alos hashachar, but l’maseh many say that this may not be relied upon.

Many poskim hold that l’chatchilah, birchas hatorah may be recited even if one did not sleep. Nonetheless it is customary to do one of the above options. Therefore, if none of these options are available, then one can make his own birchas hatorah.

How Much to Sleep in Order to Recite Birchas Hatorah

One who fell asleep on a shtender etc is not considered to have slept in regard to reciting birchas hatorah, even if it was more than a half hour. One who slept a half hour on his bed at night may recite birchas hatorah the next morning.

Learning Before Reciting or Listening to Birchas Hatorah

Some poskim are of the opinion that one may not continue learning after alos hashachar until birchas hatorah are recited. However, the custom is to be lenient with this and one can continue learning even if alos hashachar has arrived.

Time for Davening

The custom is to daven vasikin (shmeonei esrei at the time of neitz hachama) on Shavuos morning. Generally, the earliest time one may daven is at neitz hachama. Some poskim say that one may daven at alos hashachar (seventy-two minutes before neitz hachama) even though generally we wait until neitz hachama for shemonei esrei. Many say that this is only permitted in a difficult situation, i.e. bother to gather the people at neitz hachama, or if one is tired for being up all night. Therefore, this may only be done under extraordinary circumstances. Even if one davens early, krias shema cannot be recited before the time of “mi’sheyaker”.

Mikvah

The custom of many is to go to the mikvah prior to shacharis at the onset of alos hashachar.

Going to the Kosel

In Eretz Yisroel on Shavuos morning thousands of people go to the Kosel to daven vasikin. Many times one cannot daven well there since there are so many people, and in addition a lot of learning is lost since it takes time to walk there. We mentioned before that many poskim say if one will not be able to daven properly on Shavuos morning then he should not stay awake on Shavuos night. One can go to the kosel at a different time on Yom Tov (i.e. after his nap on Shavuos morning). One should consult with his Rav to see if it is in his best interest to go.

Seuda

When one davens early in the morning and then goes to sleep, he tends to have the seuda after chatzos. This should be avoided, and oneshould make sure to have the seuda before chatzos.