When and Where

When: The first night of Shavuot! Sunday June 1, 2025, from 9:30pm or 10:45pm until 4:45am

Where: This year we are hosted by Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel, located at 300 S 18th Street in Center City Philadelphia.

Registration

Registration is open! Please register here. The registration deadline is Sunday June 1 at 10:00am EDT. Only those who have registered will be admitted to the event.

Event Details

Please note that the program will begin after dinner this year. Desserts and snacks will be provided overnight.

Schedule Overview

Time
9:30pm	Event start for early birds
9:45–10:45pm	Early-bird session
10:45pm	Event start
11:00–4:45am	Learning sessions and desserts throughout the night!
5:00am	Several local synagogues are hosting sunrise services

Classes

Please note that this list is still subject to change as teachers confirm their availablility and class titles.

(Mobile users: You may want to rotate your phone to landscape mode to see the full table.)

time	class 1	class 2	class 3	class 4	class 5	class 6
9:45pm	Rebbe Nachman & Leonard Cohen Nancy Leaderman	How to Behave in Shul - What Our Tradition Teaches Rabbi David Seed	Jews in Baseball and Some Other Sports Matt Whitehorn	Blood Libel: From My Grandfather’s Memoir Paul E. Ruskin, M.D.	The Ten _______ Rabbi Kenneth Stern
11:00pm	Torah, Tarot, and Trickery: Judaism and Divination Rabbi Steven Gotlib	Theologies of Exile Rabbi Ari Lev Fornari	A Barrel Over Their Heads: Levinas on Matan Torah Dr Michael Gillis	Women’s Hebrew Poetry and וַתִּפֹּל, עַל-פָּנֶיהָ Anabella Esperanza	Let’s taste some of the delicious aspects of the Sephardi traditions Rabbi Albert Gabbai	Will You Be My Chevruta? Conflict & Companionship Rabbanit Dasi Fruchter
12:30am	Motions and Movements at Religious Services Davida Charney	Leaving Shul for Yizkor Chesky Kopel	Slay Sacred Cows, Smash Tablets: Leading in Crisis Rabba Rori Picker Neiss	The Drama behind the Two Versions of the Torah Rabbi David Greenstein	Inside the City Eruv: Halacha in the Trenches Rabbi Eliezer Hirsch	The Baal Shem Tov’s Amud HaTefilah Rabbi Mónica Gomery and Rabbi Abi Weber
1:30am	Highway 61 Revisited Revisited David Margules	Gematria, Atbash, Bible Codes, Et Cetera Jerry Silverman	“Holy Chavruta, Batman!” Eitan Runyan	The Soul Within the Scroll Yoella Epstein	A New Jewish Ethic Joseph “Joey” Eisman	God Would Never… Unless?? Jesse Breitbart
2:50am	Our Challenging Teachings: What Troubles You? Dr. Saundra Sterling Epstein	The Halacha of Living in the Diaspora, from Breishit to Vayikra Shayna Hodkin	“O Shavuos Tree, O Shavuos Tree” Russel Neiss	Big Themes in American Jewish History Barry Kirzner	The 12 Tribes, the Shemoneh Esreh, and You Timothy W. Cravens
3:50am	No place like it: Utopias and Center City Jews Miriam Steinberg-Egeth	The Immortal Prophet: The Character of Eliyahu Noah Fields	Look at Moses’ Life Through Heaven’s Eyes Michael Steinberg	Making of a Mass Murderer Tadhg Cleary

Code of Conduct

All attendees are expected to adhere to the following code of conduct:

The expectation of this event is that all interactions are based on mutual respect. All participants are expected to engage in discussions with civility and consideration. Harassment in any form—whether verbal, physical, or implied—will not be tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to, unwelcome attention, discriminatory remarks, personal attacks, or any behavior that may be deemed hostile, intimidating, or offensive. Protests, interruptions, and any actions intended to disrupt or derail the event/discussion are strictly prohibited. Disorderly, aggressive, or inappropriate behavior will result in immediate removal from the event. Participants must not engage in actions or speech that make others feel unsafe or uncomfortable. We are committed to maintaining an inclusive environment where everyone can engage without fear of exclusion or harm.

This community comprises many different perspectives and identities, and we should not expect to completely agree with each other all the time. Disagreement is natural, but it must be expressed constructively and respectfully. Listen carefully and speak kindly; we all have much to learn from one another.

Those who are not able to abide by these guidelines will be asked to leave.

Contact

Questions? Email info@phillyshavuot.org.