Tikkun Leil Shavuot 2015
On Erev Shavuot, we hosted our annual Tikkun Leil Shavuot, a traditional all-night Torah study. The theme this year was “The Garden of Eden,” an exploration of the notion of paradise through the lens of religion, art, music, psychology and more. Over 1,000 individuals from all walks of life arrived and attended, according to their own preferences, diverse lectures and workshops.
One of the highlights from the evening was a conversation between Rabbi Meir Azari and Sheikh Mahmid Weil, the Qadi (an Islamic judge) of Jaffa, on the Garden of Eden as seen in Judaism and Islam. What made this particular lecture so unique was Sheikh Weil’s ease in entering into a religious Jewish space and our community’s enthusiasm of inviting a sheikh into our midst. This lecture drew over 400 participants that listened attentively throughout the hour-long conversation.
In addition, we were pleased to welcome Knesset member Stav Shaffir who discussed with Executive Director of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism, Rabbi Gilad Kariv, the ‘reality’ of the Garden of Eden in our modern day society. We also had the privilege of welcoming actress, screenwriter and film director, Shira Geffen, who spoke with screenwriter Galit Roichman about sources of inspiration and the process of creating a film.
The evening was filled with energy as participants moved from room to room to attend these lectures. Those who wished to enjoy the warm evening sat outside under the stars drinking coffee and greeting friends. As the sun began to rise, we gathered on the banks of the Yarkon River for morning services led by Rabbi Galia Sadan and musician Shimon Smith. Reflecting on the evening, we at Beit Daniel are proud to uphold this ancient tradition in a modern and pluralistic way.