Many major holidays are celebrated primarily in the home and synagogue, from the Pesach Seder to the High Holy Days prayers, from living in the Sukkah to lighting the Chanukah Menorah. The holiday of Shavuos is unique; as it marks G-d’s giving of the Torah to the Jewish People, it is celebrated in the Bais Medrash (study hall) with Torah study.
“Shavuos is more than just cheesecake,” explains Senior Educator Rabbi Mordechai Fleisher. “It is a very special holiday for those who are immersed in Torah study. At the Kollel, we aim to make it that kind of holiday for every Jew by helping them build that connection to Torah.”
The Denver Community Kollel celebrated Shavuos with Torah from start to finish. One week before Shavuos, Shabbos Parshas Bechukosai, June 3-4, the Kollel held its annual pre-Shavuos Southeast Shabbaton. Four West Side Kollel families joined the Southeast community and, along with five current and past Kollel families already living in the Southeast, they offered numerous classes, talks, study groups and discussions in preparation for Shavuos.
On the Monday night before Shavuos, Kollel Dean Rabbi Shachne Sommers delivered a pre-Shavuos talk. Attended by over twenty people, Rabbi Sommers discussed the inspiration and importance of the days leading up to Shavuos.
The highlight of Shavuos (besides the cheesecake!) is Shavuos night, when Jews across the world stay up all night studying Torah. The Kollel offered a variety of Shavuos night study opportunities. On the West Side, Kollel scholars and associate scholars studied at Congregation Zera Abraham. Many Kollel scholars studied with a chavrusah (study partner). Rabbi Mordechai Fleisher gave a 2-hour class (with a break halfway through) on the subject of time-bound mitzvos from 12:30-2:45 am. From 3-4 am, Kollel Associate Scholar Rabbi Yossi Kaplan held a fascinating discussion about the Ten Lost Tribes and the Sambatyon River.
Meanwhile, at the Kollel Torah Center in Southeast Denver, more than thirty-five people participated in an all-nighter study session. The Bais Medrash pulsated with the energy and enthusiasm of Torah study.
“It was great learning with the Kollel on Shavuos,” says Dan Askenazi. “The high energy from various groups made a great ‘all-nighter’ with much Torah wisdom transmitted.”
“Thirty-five people studying like that is just amazing,” says Kollel Director Rabbi Moshe Heyman. “Everyone is just blown away by the passion and fire that comes with full-throttle Torah learning.”