Night of Shavuot
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Question
Hello, On the night of Shavuot, if a person knows that they will not be able to concentrate during the morning prayer if they stay awake all night, what is the recommended course of action? 1. Go to sleep early and wake up as early as possible before dawn to study Torah, and then continue with the morning prayer? 2. Study until they fall asleep at night, and try to wake up for dawn? I would also like to understand the reason. Thank you very much.
Answer
Hello
It is better to go to sleep early and wake up as early as possible.
The main reason for the custom of staying awake on the night of Shavuot is to rectify the fact that the people of Israel overslept on the morning of the giving of the Torah.
Source
Mishnah Berurah, Siman 494, S"K 1
It is stated in the Zohar that the early pious ones would stay awake all night and engage in Torah study, and most scholars have already adopted this practice. In the Shulchan Aruch of the Ari Z"L, it is stated that anyone who does not sleep at all during the night and engages in Torah study is assured that they will complete their year and no harm will befall them. The reason, according to the M"A, is that the Israelites slept all night, and the Holy One, blessed be He, had to wake them to receive the Torah [as stated in the Midrash], therefore we need to rectify this.