Celebrate Shavuot with these virtual classes

Celebrate Shavuot with these virtual classes virtual classes

By Carolyn Conte

It’s traditional on Shavuot, which begins at sundown on May 28, to celebrate the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai by studying all night, This year, classes have gone virtual. Here are some of those classes, both based in the Washington area and all around the country.

Monday, May 25

One Community, Many Voices: A PreShavuot Zoom Celebration of Torah The Jewish Federati on of Greater Washington, the Washington Board of Rabbis, the Jewish Community Relati ons Council of Greater Washington, and Hadar present an extended evening of Torah study. Join a diverse and cross-denominati onal group of 17 local rabbis. The event will explore how Torah addresses the human conditi on while providing inspirati on for a healthy future. It will also be an opportunity to observe Memorial Day. Free, register for Zoom link. 6-9:30 p.m. Contact Mindy Berger at mindy. berger@shalomdc.org.

Wednesday, May 27

Cooking Class The Edlavitch DCJCC and PJ Library in Greater Washington brings this class on eati ng dairy foods, a traditi onal part of celebrati ng Shavuot. At this children’s event, you will have the opportunity to make ice cream in a bag. You will need: 1 cup half and half, 1-1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon sugar, ice, 1/4 cup salt, and two Ziploc bags (1 small, 1 large). 11-11:30 a.m. Register in advance for this meeti ng: Zoom.us/meeti ng/register/ tJYqceCtrTIoHN3FAqVOfoQMofh A9r3OwB_q.

Festival of Wheat Join the Jewish Life and Learning department of the Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center to prepare for celebrati ng Shavuot with an interacti ve challah-baking lesson. Form dough, braid and cover the basics of why the holiday celebrates the wheat harvest and what’s so great about wheat in the Jewish people’s history. 4-5 p.m. Check the website for ingredients: Edcjcc.org/event/ festi val-of-wheat/?instance_id=77068.

Thursday, May 28

The TEN: An Alternative Shavuot Experience with Priya Parker The TEN is an all-night, Torah-celebrati ng festi val of learning, laughing, dancing, refl ecti ng, cooking, drinking (coff ee) and merry-making with Sixth & I in Washington. (coff ee) and merry-making with Sixth & I in Washington. Priya Parker, author of “The Art of Gathering: How We Priya Parker, author of “The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why it Matt ers” and host of The New York Meet and Why it Matt ers” and host of The New York Times podcast “Together Apart,” will talk with Times podcast “Together Apart,” will talk with Rabbi Shira Stutman. They’ll discuss the Rabbi Shira Stutman. They’ll discuss the power of gathering, the role of religion in power of gathering, the role of religion in community and refl ecti ons on community and refl ecti ons on gathering in the future. Following the gathering in the future. Following the conversati on, stay for a night of conversati on, stay for a night of stories from Jewish traditi on, take stories from Jewish traditi on, take part in a late-night cooking class part in a late-night cooking class with Chef Vered Gutt man, celebrate with Chef Vered Gutt man, celebrate at an Israeli dance party and enjoy a at an Israeli dance party and enjoy a restorati ve yoga session. restorati ve yoga session. SixthAndI.org. 7 p.m.-5 a.m. SixthAndI.org. 7 p.m.-5 a.m.

Tikkun Leil Shavuot 2020 Virtual Edition Normally a holiday celebrati on at Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue in Detroit would be out of Downtown Synagogue in Detroit would be out of reach, but this year, distance doesn’t matt er much. reach, but this year, distance doesn’t matt er much. The synagogue is hosti ng its Seventh Annual Tikkun The synagogue is hosti ng its Seventh Annual Tikkun Leil Shavuot. Sessions will cover topics such as COVID Leil Shavuot. Sessions will cover topics such as COVID Economics, Intro to American Sign Language, How to Economics, Intro to American Sign Language, How to Build Your Rain Garden, Annexati on, Jewish Ritual Build Your Rain Garden, Annexati on, Jewish Ritual Music, and more. Parti cipants must register for this event Music, and more. Parti cipants must register for this event before May 22. Upon registrati on, you will receive the before May 22. Upon registrati on, you will receive the Zoom link for the event, and have the opportunity to sign Zoom link for the event, and have the opportunity to sign up for preferred sessions. up for preferred sessions.

Saturday, May 30

Up All Night A public, live video by Hinenu: The Balti more Justi ce Shti ebl. This year, as COVID-19 prevents gatherings, Shti ebl. This year, as COVID-19 prevents gatherings, synagogues from citi es across the country are virtual synagogues from citi es across the country are virtually joining together for a late night of learning. Sessions ly joining together for a late night of learning. Sessions include cooking workshops, text studies, panel discussions include cooking workshops, text studies, panel discussions and skill shares. There will be a late night dance party, too. and skill shares. There will be a late night dance party, too. It will also raise money for a number of causes and camIt will also raise money for a number of causes and campaigns: Ezra Uganda Assistance Fund, Palesti ne Children’s paigns: Ezra Uganda Assistance Fund, Palesti ne Children’s Relief Fund, Black Mama’s Bail Out. Sliding scale donati ons Relief Fund, Black Mama’s Bail Out. Sliding scale donati ons suggested. 6 p.m. - 6 a.m. Registrati on is required at bit. suggested. 6 p.m. - 6 a.m. Registrati on is required at bit. ly/upallnight5780register. For more informati on about the ly/upallnight5780register. For more informati on about the event, email info@hinenubalti more.org. WJWevent, email info@hinenubalti more.org.

Carolyn Conte is a reporter for the Baltimore Jewish Times, an a liated publication of Washington Jewish Week. unpict/iStock/Getty Images unpict/iStock/Getty Images