Ask the Rabbi with Rabbi Chaim Mintz
I know that staying up all night learning Torah on Shavuot is a beautiful custom, but when my son does it, he ends up so exhausted that he sleeps through most of the Chag (holiday). If he’d learn more overall by getting a good night’s sleep, is it still worth it?
Rabbi Chaim Mintz responds:
Why We Stay Up on Shavuot Night
Shavuot is “Z’man Matan Torateinu—the time of the giving of the Torah,” because every year we receive the Torah anew and reaffirm our commitment to it. What better way is there to prepare for receiving the Torah than by showing how much we value it?
Torah: Our Greatest Treasure
There’s a saying in Yiddish: “Torah iz di besteh schorah—Torah is the best merchandise,” which means that we treasure Torah more than anything else. This echoes David Hamelech (King David) who said (Tehillim 119:72), “The Torah from Your [God’s] mouth is better to me than thousands of gold and silver [pieces].” Giving up a full night of sleep to immerse ourselves in the delight of Torah study is a beautiful way of expressing that Torah is our most treasured possession.
Learning from Our Ancestors’ Mistake
There’s also a deeper element that makes this custom particularly fitting. Chazal (Our Sages – Pirkei D’Rabbi Eliezer Ch. 41) recount that on the day of Matan Torah, Hashem (God) had already descended to give the Jewish nation the Torah—yet they were still asleep! While Hashem waited, Moshe had to go and wake them. Despite the magnitude of the moment, the Jewish people were asleep in bed.
Fixing the Past with Zerizut (Zeal)
This could only have happened because the Jewish people, at least according to their exalted level, did not sufficiently value the Torah. When a person values and is excited about something, he will find the energy and drive to pursue it and overcome any obstacles that stand in the way. Their lack of zerizut (alacrity) in ensuring they rose early that day reflects some element missing in the excitement and desire for the Torah.
The Spiritual Message of Staying Awake
This, suggests the Magen Avraham (494:1), is why we stay up all night to learn Torah on Shavuot. We are showing Hashem that we have learned our lesson, and we are not going to make that mistake again. We desire and appreciate the Torah so much that we are going to stay up all night studying it, and we are certainly not going to oversleep!
Kabbalistic Power of Shavuot Night Study
Additionally, there is a Kabbalistic dimension to staying up on Shavuot night. The Zohar speaks in glowing terms of the tremendous merit and spiritual benefit that comes from learning all night in preparation for receiving the Torah. The Arizal, quoted by the Mishnah Berurah, states that if one stays up the whole night of Shavuot studying Torah, he is guaranteed to live out the year, and no harm will befall him.
But What If It’s Just Too Exhausting?
So yes, it’s definitely worthwhile for your son (and for you too!) to stay up learning on Shavuot night—even if it means learning less overall. The excitement and elevated atmosphere of the night are powerful experiences on their own, and he’ll walk away with a deep sense of fulfillment from having joined the Torah world in preparing to receive the Torah.
Practical Advice: A Balanced Approach
On a practical level, it’s a good idea to take a nap before Yom Tov (the holiday) and then get a few more hours of sleep after davening (praying) in the morning. For most people, that’s enough to feel refreshed and still enjoy the rest of the day.
When Sleep is the Right Choice
However, as wonderful as this custom is, if someone knows that staying up all night will leave him exhausted and he won’t be able to study Torah at all or enjoy the rest of Yom Tov, it’s not worth it. Instead, he should stay up a little later studying, then go to sleep, and he’ll have the energy to learn throughout the day.
Conclusion: Torah Excitement With Wisdom
In short: Staying up on Shavuot night shows our excitement for Torah, correcting the lack of enthusiasm the Jewish people showed at Matan Torah. It also has deep Kabbalistic significance. If staying up will ruin the rest of your Yom Tov, it’s not worth it.
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