I would like to know if there are any halachot I should be…

Dear Rabbi,

I was recently appointed as the rabbi of a shul, and this will be my first Leil Shavuot serving in that role. I would like to know if there are any halachot I should be particularly aware of regarding learning throughout the night. I am already familiar with the halachot of Birchos Hashachar, but I was wondering if there are any other practical halachot or important points I should know.

Thank you very much.

Learning on Leil Shavuos

So yes, there are actually quite a few halachos besides Birchos HaTorah that apply during the night of Leil Shavuos.

I would like to share a few practical questions that came up in the Beis Horaah of HaGaon Harav Amram Fried shlit”a, together with some practical guidance with regard to Hilchos Brachos that is applicable to Leil Shavuos. (and for more Halachot in-depth, see Azamroh Lishmecho #329)

One question that was asked is: what is better to learn on Leil Shavuos? Is it better to learn Gemara, or to say the Tikkun Leil Shavuos?

HaGaon Harav Fried shlit”a answered that since there is a machlokes haposkim on the matter, whichever one a person does is acceptable. As it says, “avid k’mar avid, v’avid k’mar avid.” This is based on the Chok Yaakov, Siman 494 1.

Staying Awake the Entire Night

Another question involved someone who feels that he can only stay awake for half the night of Shavuos, which half of the night should he spend learning?

HaGaon Harav Fried shlit”a answered that it is preferable to sleep during the first half of the night and learn during the second half. This is based on the Knesses HaGedolah, Siman 494.

A third question:

If a person thinks that by staying awake the whole night, he will end up dozing off during davening, or will not be able to daven properly, should he nevertheless remain awake all night?

HaGaon Harav Fried shlit”a answered that in such a case, a person should sleep a little during the night in order to be able to daven Shacharis properly. This is based on the Pele Yoetz, “Atzeres,” as well as the Siddur Yaavetz - Leil Chag HaShavuos.

Hilchos Brachos on Leil Shavuos

There is also a very practical halacha with regard to Hilchos Brachos, that many people do not pay attention to during the night of Shavuos.

Throughout the night, people drink water, coffee, etc. in order to stay awake. The question is, does one need to make a new bracha every time they drink?

HaGaon Harav Fried shlit”a gave the following guidance:

Drank a Reviis in One Go

If a person drinks a full reviis at one time, and does not plan to drink again afterward, then he should recite both a bracha rishonah and a bracha acharonah.

However, if he plans to continue drinking again within the shiur ikul, then he should not yet recite the bracha acharonah, but only after he has drunk again within the shiur ikul of the last time he drank.

How Long Is the Shiur Ikul?

Although the exact amount of time is not entirely clear in halacha, it seems to be close to an hour.

Therefore, if a person who drank a reviis in one go plans to drink again within the hour, he should not recite a new bracha rishonah each time. Rather, he is exempt with the first bracha that he recited when he drank the first reviis, and afterward he should recite the bracha acharonah.

Drank Hot Beverages or Small Amounts

However, if one drank only small amounts at a time, in a manner that does not require a Borei Nefashos, or in the case of hot drinks, where the common custom is not to recite a Borei Nefashos afterward, based on the Mishnah Berurah, Siman 210.

Then the common practice, brought in the Mishnah Berurah, Siman 174 Seif Katan 17, is that one does not recite a new bracha rishonah every time he drinks throughout the night. Rather, as long as he remains in the same place and had in mind from the beginning that he would continue drinking throughout the night, then he is exempt with the original bracha.

Shinui Makom

However, one must keep in mind that if he leaves the building, he would need to recite a new bracha according to the halachos of shinui makom.

With regard to shinui makom, HaGaon Harav Amram Fried shlit”a writes in Azamrah Lishmecho that, for example, bochurim who said a shehakol on a drink and then went out to the gated area of the yeshivah do not need to recite another bracha, even though it is outside under the open sky, as long as it is an enclosed area.

Since it is normal for bochurim to go out to such an area, it is considered as though they had this in mind when they recited the bracha. Therefore, we can compare it to someone going out onto the balcony of his house, which is likewise not considered a shinui makom.

(See Orach Chaim Siman 178.)

Hesech Hadaas

If a person originally decided he was finished drinking, and later changed his mind and wanted to drink again, that may already be considered a hesech hadaas, and he would need to recite a new bracha when he decides to drink again.

Wishing you, hatzlacha rabbah and chag sameach.

1. Azamrah L’Shmecho #329
2. Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 494
3. Chok Yaakov 494:1
4. Mishnah Berurah 46
5. Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 89
6. Mishnah Berurah 89
7. Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 4
8. Mishnah Berurah 4
9. Biur Halacha 494
10. Piskei Teshuvos 494