Shavuot

From Halachipedia

Preparation for Shavuot

  1. Some say that thirty days before Shavuot one should start learning the halachot of Shavuot, whereas others say that one should start from Rosh Chodesh Sivan. [1] All agree that on the holiday itself one should learn the halachot of Shavuot. [2]
  2. The notion that one should learn in preparation for the holiday doesn't mean that a talmid chacham should stop his regular learning in order to learn halacha of the upcoming holiday, rather it means that a question about hilchot shavuot is given precedence to questions not about shavuot.[3]

Eating Dairy on Shavuot

  1. Some have the custom to eat dairy meals the first day of Shavuot. [4]

Shavuot night

  1. Many have the custom to stay up shavuot night learning torah.

Shavuot morning

Netilat Yadayim

  1. One who didn’t sleep at all at night should wash Netilat Yadayim in the morning without a bracha, since there’s a dispute whether there's an obligation to wash Netilat Yadayim in the morning if one did not sleep the night before. According to Ashkenazim, one who didn't sleep but goes to the bathroom in the morning should wash Netilat Yadayim with a Bracha. [5]
  2. One should not learn after Olot HaShachar until he washed his hands in the morning. [6]
  3. If one slept less than 30 minutes [7] or slept in a temporary fashion (putting one’s head on the table) [8], then it is as if he did not sleep at all. [9]

Asher Yatzer

  1. If one slept at night, one should make Asher Yatzer in the morning whether or not one went to the bathroom; however, if one didn’t sleep, he should only recite Asher Yatzer if he goes to the bathroom. [10]

Tzitzit

  1. If one went to sleep (or stayed up) in Tzitzit, preferably one should make a Bracha on wearing a talit to cover the Bracha for Tzitzit, however if that’s not possible, one may make a Bracha on those Tzitzit in the morning, and as one makes the bracha one should shake the Tzitzit strings. [11]

Brachot HaTorah

  1. If one didn’t sleep at all during the night, one shouldn’t recite Brachat HaTorah but should hear them from someone who is obligated to make them (both must have kavana, and after the Bracha, both learn some pesukim such as Parshat Birkat Cohanim). [12]
  2. If one slept Shinat Kevah the day before staying up all night, one should make the Brachot hatorah in the morning after one didn’t sleep. [13]

Brachot HaShachar

  1. If one didn’t sleep at all, one should listen to Elokei Nishama and HaMaavir Shenah from someone who did sleep. [14] However, the rest of the Brachot HaShachar one can make oneself. [15]
  2. One should not learn after Olot HaShachar until he said Brachot HaShachar. [16]

References

  1. In Gemara Pesachim 6a, Rabbanan hold that one should begin to learn Hilchot Pesach thirty days in advance of Pesach, whereas Rabban Shimon Ben Gamliel holds only 2 weeks. Rabbanan learn this idea from Moshe who taught the laws of Pesach Sheni thirty days in advance which was Pesach in Nissan. S"A 429:1 rules like the opinion of the Rabbanan. Mishna Brurah 429:1 quotes some who entend this to other Yamim Tovim such as Shavuot, whereas the Gra held that it does not apply to Shavuot.
  2. Gemara Megillah 32b states that one should learn the halachot of Shavuot on Shavuot. Mishna Brurah 429:1 quotes this as halacha.
  3. Chazon Ovadyah (Pesach pg 1) explains that the halacha in Gemara Pesachim 6a is relevant in regards to the laws established in Tosefta Sanhedrin 7:5 which state that a person should ask relevant questions and a relevant question has precedence over the irrelevant questions.
  4. Rama 494:3.
  5. Mishna Brurah 4:30, 494:1
  6. S”A 4:14 says that if one was awake from before Olot HaShachar and washed his hands earlier, he should wash again at Olot HaShachar without a Bracha because of Safek. Piskei Teshuvot 494:5 says once there’s an obligation to wash one’s hands one shouldn’t learn Torah.
  7. Kitzur S”A 2:8, Dinei Nieyor Kol HaLaylah (pg 42) in name of Rav Chaim Kanievsky
  8. Ishei Yisrael 2:33 note 110, Piskei Teshuvot 494:6
  9. Mishna Brurah 4:27, Ishei Yisrael 2:33
  10. Mishna Brurah 4:3
  11. S”A 8:16 rules that if one slept in Tzitzit one may make a new Bracha on it in the morning and at the time of the Bracha one should shake the Tzitzit strings. Mishna Brurah 8:42 explains that really this issue depends on whether there’s a mitzvah of Tzitzit at night and so it’s preferable to make the Bracha on a talit and cover the Bracha for Tzitzit. Piskei Teshuvot 8:30 adds that someone who that option is unavailable, such as bochrim who don’t wear talitim, should make the Bracha oneself like S”A.
  12. Mishna Brurah 47:28
  13. Mishna Brurah 47:28 in name of Rabbi Akvia Eiger
  14. Mishna Brurah 46:24
  15. Piskei Teshuvot 494:7
  16. Mishna Brurah 47:28