Chapter 1. The Laws of the Festival of Shavuot

The Shelah’s Prayer

alef It is customary to recite the Shelah’s prayer on the eve of Rosh Chodesh Sivan, which is an auspicious time for praying for one’s children’s success in Torah.1 

Shoalin Vedorshin

bet The rule of “שואלים ודורשים בהלכות חג בחג” (“one asks and expounds the laws of the festival on the festival”) with regard to Shavuot is explained by the Gra as beginning from Rosh Chodesh Sivan.2 

Reciting Tachanun

gimel Tachanun is not recited from Rosh Chodesh Sivan until after Isru Chag; some have the custom not to recite it through the twelfth of Sivan, inclusive.3 

Lighting a Memorial Candle for Yizkor

dalet Ideally, one should light a memorial candle on the eve of Yom Tov. If one did not manage to light it before Yom Tov, one should light it in the place of the meal so that one benefits from its light; it is even better to light it in the synagogue. In pressing circumstances, it may be permitted in any case, since it is like a mitzvah candle lit in honor of one’s parents, and one would be greatly distressed on Yom Tov if it were not lit.4 

The Law of Temimut

hei It is a mitzvah to accept the sanctity of Yom Tov early in order to add to Yom Tov. Although with regard to Shavuot there is a rule to delay the evening prayer because of temimut, the complete count [as explained below in section chet], there is no contradiction in all this to the rule of adding to Yom Tov.5 

Laws of Candle Lighting

vav As on every Yom Tov, some have the custom to light candles before Yom Tov, and some have the custom to light at night before the meal. One who has no established custom should light candles on the eve of Yom Tov.6 As stated, lighting candles early does not impair the completeness of temimut, since the addition does not uproot the previous day.

The Blessing of Shehecheyanu at Candle Lighting

zayin Some women have the custom to recite the blessing of Shehecheyanu at the time of candle lighting, and others have the custom to hear or recite Shehecheyanu during Kiddush. One who has no established custom should hear or recite Shehecheyanu at Kiddush.7 Those who customarily recite Shehecheyanu at candle lighting: if they recite Kiddush themselves, they do not say Shehecheyanu in Kiddush. If they hear Kiddush from their husband or from others, then if they do not drink from the cup, they should answer amen to the blessing of Shehecheyanu. If they do drink, there is room to question whether they may answer amen after the blessing of Shehecheyanu and then drink from the cup. The basis of the doubt is that, since they have already fulfilled their obligation of Shehecheyanu, answering amen may be considered an interruption in Kiddush, in which case she would need to recite a blessing over drinking from the cup, as is the law for one who interrupts between the blessing of the one making Kiddush and drinking; or perhaps answering amen is not considered an interruption. In practice, it appears that they should answer amen.

The Place of Lighting

chet One who eats in one house and sleeps in another should ideally light in the place where he eats,8  and although, according to halachah, a blessing is also recited over lighting in the place of sleeping,9  nowadays, when there is electric lighting, one should ideally not recite a blessing over lighting in the place of sleeping, for we do not recite a blessing over adding light by lighting for the sake of shalom bayit.10  This is especially so with Yom Tov candle lighting, where there is room to discuss whether it was instituted also for shalom bayit, or only for honor and enjoyment, and consequently applies only in the place of eating,11  nevertheless, in practice it appears that one may recite a blessing on Yom Tov also for shalom bayit, and therefore in pressing circumstances one may rely on the lenient opinion and recite a blessing even in the place where one sleeps. Ideally, it is good to eat mezonot or the like there, or to perform there some act needed for the meal; it is also preferable to darken the room completely before lighting, and at the time of lighting, without an interruption of speech, to turn on the light and recite the blessing, so that the blessing will also apply to the electric lighting.
Those who have the custom to light on Yom Tov itself should set a Shabbat timer to turn off the electric lighting at the time of lighting, or shortly afterward for a brief period while the candles are burning.

The Time for the Prayer on Yom Tov Night

tet The evening prayer on the night of Shavuot is delayed until after nightfall, so that the days of the count will be forty-nine complete days, temimot.12 

One Who Slept a Regular Sleep on the Eve of the Festival

yod One who slept a regular sleep in his bed on the eve of Shavuot should preferably have in mind during the blessing of Ahavat Olam to fulfill the obligation of the Torah blessing, and should study immediately after the prayer.13