This year for Shavuot, we’re staying up all night learning!
Beginning with a potluck shabbes dinner and ending with breakfast the following morning. Full schedule below!
Come in your PJs, bring a sleeping bag and pillow, and get comfy! We will have space for napping, and you’re welcome to stay for as much or as little of the night as you want! We will also have a boardgame space open for much of the night!
BRING:
- Something for our vegetarian potluck dinner
- Something for our vegetarian charcuterie table (cheese, fruit, nuts, crackers, etc.)
- Games and/or crafting supplies if you want
- Whatever you need/want to be comfy
We will provide challah, grape juice/wine, cheesecake, snacks, and breakfast!
Shavuot is a dairy holiday and it is traditional to eat lots of cheese! Please feel free to bring something dairy-full or dairy free for our potluck dinner. It is also customary to eat wheat products in honor of the wheat harvest and fruits in honor of the offering of first fruits!
SCHEDULE
Friday, May 22nd @ 6:30 p.m. – Saturday, May 23rd @ 6:30 a.m.
15 minute break at the end of each session
6:30 PM
Shabbes Dinner (Vegetarian Potluck)
8:00 PM
Rabbi Miriam – The Cosmic Mountain
We received the Torah at Mt Sinai amidst fire, smoke, and thunder, the mountain trembling. But what was so special about this mountain? And what can we learn from it about Judaism and ourselves?
9:45 PM
Board Games & Quiet / Nap Space open up
Karly – The Torah as a Work of Art
How a debate between a Nazi philosopher and Jewish American art historian can help us understand religious meaning-making
11:00 PM
Amaryllis – Plurality and Pluralism: Mad Jewish Modalities
Join us as we explore what plurality is, the expanding world of plural community theory, the mad liberation movement, and how this all relates to Judaism!
Tim – Empowering Your Creative Voice
Everyone is creative, and everyone has stories to tell through various mediums. I plan to help you feel empowered to find and express your voice through exercises to awaken your creative voice. We will explore ideas, free writes/conceptualization, dialogue writing, and revising/editing techniques.
12:15 AM
Harley – Jewish Paper Cutting
We will learn about the history of Jewish Papercutting (research by Batya Reed) and then make our own papercuts! All art supplies provided.
Access: we will be using x-acto knives to cut paper
1:30 AM
Esther David – The French Revolution and Disability
A brief overview of the French Revolution followed by an exploration of disability’s role in shaping the revolution.
Alana – Knit (and crochet) yourself together
Come learn about crocheting and knitting! Open to any skill levels and abilities! Bring yarn, knitting, and crochet needles if you can, and we will also have supplies.
2:45 AM
Jin – Sticks and Stones Won’t Break Your Bones: Understanding Drawing Shape Language and Colors
Everyone believes that they can’t draw, but art doesn’t always just look like realistic human figures – many iconic cartoon characters are iconic for their exaggerated shape language! In this session, I will be going over some artistic fundamentals, while you get to draw along with fun and engaging exercises via live demonstrations! Art supplies provided, but feel free to bring coloring pencils, crayons, or markers.
4:00 AM
Jennie – That’s a Wrap: Jewish Hair Covering, Theory and Practice
Learn a bit about the history and practice of Jewish head and hair covering. Then learn some basic scarf wrapping techniques. Scarves will be provided but feel free to bring your own favorite scarf!
Access: Wrapping practice will require repetitive use of arms over shoulder height, can be done seated or standing, and can be done with the support of a wrapping partner. Will squeeze your head a little.
5:15 AM
Breakfast (provided)
ACCESS:
- Wheelchair accessible
- Masks required indoors except when eating
- Gender neutral wheelchair accessible bathroom
Shavuot commemorates receiving the Torah at Mt Sinai, and is often celebrated by staying up all night learning. The Mystics who created this practice in the 16th century believed that studying was one way that we repair the world (Tikkun Olam). The world we live in, olam ha-zeh, is full of pain and injustice. May our Shavuot learning help us imagine new worlds and possibilities, so that we can create olam haba, the world to come, rooted in liberation and justice.