Tikkun Leil Shavuot Weekend with Scholar-in-Residence Rodger Kamenetz

Join us for a night of learning, reflection, and community as we honor the tradition of Shavuot with our annual all-night study session. We’re thrilled to welcomeRodger Kamenetz (acclaimed poet and author ofThe Jew in the Lotus) as our scholar-in-residence. Together, we’ll delve into Jewish wisdom, sacred texts, and rich conversation guided by this distinguished scholar. Come for the learning, stay for the spirit of the night!

Schedule Highlights:

• Sunday, June 1–Monday, June 2
  • 11:15 a.m.:Prayer Workshop: Rodger Kamenetz will join us after the Birthday and Anniversary Breakfast for a short teaching on prayer, where we'll deepen our connection to Jewish liturgy and spiritual practice.
  • 7:00 p.m.:All-Night Learning—Together we’ll honor the tradition of this sacred night through deep engagement with Jewish texts, ideas, and community. Guided by the wisdom of our distinguished guest, Rodger Kamenetz, we’ll explore the spiritual richness of Shavuot—the festival that commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai—through thoughtful discussion, reflection, and celebration.
  • 5:30 a.m.:Hashkama (Early Morning) Minyan Service—Our night of learning culminates in a serene Hashkama Minyan Service in the Mauldin Family Memorial Garden, followed by a festive holiday breakfast.
• Tuesday, June 3
  • 9:30 a.m.:Shavuot and Yizkor Memorial Service—Our Shavuot morning service, which will include the Yizkor Memorial Service around 11:45 a.m.—a solemn moment to honor and remember our loved ones who have passed. The service will be followed by a Kiddush lunch.
  • 10:30 a.m.:Book of Ruth Text Study—Enrich your Shavuot journey with renowned biblical scholar Dr. Richard Elliot Friedman, as he offers expert insight into the timeless beauty and meaning of the Book of Ruth—traditionally read during this sacred holiday.

This event is free and open to the community! Registration is not required.

Questions? Contact Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal (lrosenthal@aasynagogue.org; 404.603.5744).

Full Schedule ×

Time

Sanctuary

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Cavalier Room

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Ellman Chapel

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Srochi Auditorium

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Sunday, June 1–Monday, June 2

11:15 a.m.

Prayer Workshop

Rodger Kamenetz will join us after the Birthday and Anniversary Breakfast for a short teaching on prayer, where we’ll deepen your connection to Jewish liturgy and spiritual practice.

7:00 p.m.

Plenary Session: The Torah of Dreams

Rodger Kamenetz

We’ll kick off all-night learning with a plenary session that explores how dreams connect us to divine revelation through ancient texts from Genesis, the Talmud, and the Zohar. Just as Shavuot commemorates our collective revelation at Sinai, we’ll explore how dreams offer personal moments of sacred encounter.

8:30 p.m.

Ma’ariv Service, Candle Lighting, and Welcome

Meshorerim

9:00 p.m.

The Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah Experience

Steve Grossman

Deep within the Talmud, we encounter a striking question:“When you study Talmud, is it a song?” Are its pages like lyrics we don’t fully grasp—mysterious, yet deeply moving? Do the words stir something in us, inviting us to listen, to question, to join the chorus? In this session, we’ll explore sugyot (passages) that reflect on the Talmud’s poetic, legal, and narrative dimensions, and consider how this ancient text might also be a kind of song—one that deepens our connection to Jewish learning and tradition.

Images of Sinai: Then and Now

Rabbi Neil Sandler

Exodus 19 is filled with vivid sensory imagery that sets the stage for the Israelites’ transformative encounter with Torah in chapter 20 at Mount Sinai. But was that moment truly one-of-a-kind? In this session, we’ll explore the powerful images of chapter 19 and ask how they might still resonate—offering insight into what it means to receive Torah in our own time.

Burning Bushes, Burning Bridges—Board Q&A

Mark Stern and Adam Hirsch

10:00 p.m.

The Torah of Your Dreams

Rodger Kamenetz

Discover practical, spiritually grounded techniques for uncovering sacred meaning in your dreams. Guided by Rodger’s 25 years of experience as a Natural Dreamwork practitioner, this intimate session invites you to explore the wisdom within your own dream life. Bring a dream to share and join a meaningful journey into the soul’s nighttime revelations.

Legacy Letters: Ethical Path to Hereafter

Rava Shulamit Cenker

As we confront end-of-life issues and the ethical dilemmas they raise, the urgency to pass on living legacies—wisdom and values for future generations—comes sharply into focus. Time may be short, but the need is profound. In this session, we will explore the importance of living wills and the ethical dimensions of guiding the transition from end of life to the afterlife.

Exploring Social Action and Justice

Alan Wexler

Our Torah and sacred teachings consistently call on us—and the entire world—to care for and uplift those in need. At AA, we strive to live out this mission through a wide range of social action initiatives. From Backpack Buddies and the Blood Drive to refugee support, LGBTQ+ advocacy, Habitat for Humanity, and food justice programs like Operation Isaiah, our community is deeply committed to making a meaningful impact. In this session, we’ll reflect on these efforts and explore new opportunities to pursue social justice and fulfill our responsibility to help repair the world.

11:00 p.m.

Hadar Community Group Info

Bonnie Levine
Participate in an informative session about Hadar, the Community Groups initiative, and learn how you can get involved in our new Atlanta Community Group. True to Hadar’s style, this session will include meaningful study paired with uplifting nigunim.

Ferguson/Fargesn: Racism, Jewishness, and White Supremacy

Rabbi Mike Rothbaum

In 1902, in a cramped room on the Lower East Side, countless Jews gave testimony before a local “Indignation Committee,” recounting abuses by New York City police. Today, Black Americans continue to face systemic oppression within the U.S. criminal justice system. How do these experiences compare? Where do they diverge? And what do they reveal about the unique responsibilities of white Jews in the ongoing struggle for racial justice?

Souper Sinai: Eating Our Prayers, Torah, and Culture

Brooke and Ariela Rosenthal

What do mountains of grilled cheese and tomato soup have to do with Shavuot? Join Brooke and Ariela Rosenthal ion preparing these comforting foods while exploring Torah insights and the special significance of dairy during the holiday.

Srochi Kitchen

12:00 a.m.

What Kind of Jew Are You? Pesach or Shavuot?

Judy Marx
Jewish history calls to us through two enduring commandments:Remember andDo. The voice of remembrance urges us to recall who we are and where we’ve been—our slavery in Egypt, the sanctity of Shabbat, the wonder of Creation. The voice of action commands us to live out our values—Honor,Guard, and the bold declarationNa’aseh V’Nishma (“We will do and we will understand”). In this session, we’ll explore texts that illuminate these twin pillars and uncover what lies at the heart of our Jewish identity.

Game Theory in Garden of Eden

Michael Miller
In this session, we’ll begin with a brief, accessible introduction to game theory, then explore how its concepts can shed new light on stories from the Tanach— including Adam and Eve, Esther, King Solomon, the Akedah, and more. No background in game theory is needed—just curiosity and a willingness to see familiar texts in a new way.

Shavuot: What Gives?

Paul Feldman
Shavuot is the holiday that celebrates revelation. What was revealed?

1:00 a.m.

Be Present, But Don’t Fool Me

Rabbi Chaim Listfield

The Torah recounts the troubling story of an unnamed man who cursed God—and was put to death by stoning.Oy. In this session, we will explore the deeper context behind this mysterious figure: Who was he, what led him to such a grave act, and what might his story reveal about justice, identity, and the power of words in our tradition?

Awakening and Receiving: What October 7 Teaches us about Torah and Jewish Identity

Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal

We’ll explore Bret Stephens’ essay“The Year American Jews Woke Up” through the lens of Shavuot—a time of receiving Torah and renewing our covenant. As we stay awake in study, we’ll confront urgent questions: What does it mean to be “awakened” as American Jews today? How do we balance belonging with distinctiveness? And how can tradition guide us amid rising antisemitism? Stephens writes, “To have been born a Jew is the single most fortunate thing that ever happened to me.” This Shavuot, we’ll reflect on Jewish identity as both a priceless inheritance and a living responsibility.

2:00 a.m.

Bricks to Books: Rebuilding Without Stone

Rabbi Eric Feld
What do you do when the very center of your world lies in ruins? Our sages answered with radical creativity, reshaping Judaism from a Temple-centered religion into a faith rooted in study, prayer, and resilience. Together, we’ll explore how the early rabbis’ bold vision for a more adaptable, portable Judaism transformed the future—and consider what their legacy can teach us about building our own path forward.

Beyond the Veil: Jewish Wisdom on Life After Death

Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal
What happens when we die? Where do we go? Do we meet again? These timeless questions have fascinated humanity, and Jewish tradition offers profound and varied perspectives on the mystery of death and the soul. Join us for an enlightening exploration of ancient Talmudic debates on resurrection and the World-to-Come, mystical teachings on the soul’s journey, concepts of judgment, Gehinom, and eternal bliss, as well as evolving views on reincarnation. Drawing from the Talmud, Midrash, Zohar, and Maimonides, we’ll uncover how our sages wrestled with these questions and what their insights reveal about living a meaningful life today.

3:00 a.m.

Who Is Responsible Fot Mitigating Antisemitism and How Is It Accomplished?

Ken Feinberg

This discussion will begin with a brief overview of recent trends in antisemitism, followed by an exploration of strategies for response and prevention. We also hope to create space for participants to share personal experiences and offer thoughts on how we, as a community, can confront and address antisemitism together.

Breaking the Chains: The Transformative Power of Forgiveness

Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal
Join us for a powerful exploration of forgiveness as both a spiritual practice and a path to personal healing. Through the story of Joseph and his brothers, Talmudic wisdom, and insights from thinkers like Hannah Arendt and Desmond Tutu, we’ll uncover how forgiveness can transform broken relationships, liberate us from past pain, and bring healing to individuals and communities alike. This session will offer practical and spiritual tools rooted in Jewish tradition to help us understand repentance, embrace second chances, and apply ancient wisdom to modern challenges.

4:30 a.m.

Unexpected Allies: Great Non-Jews of the Bible

Gary Alembik

Join us for an illuminating late-night discussion exploring the vital roles of non-Jewish figures in the Bible. From Ruth’s bravery to Cyrus’s visionary leadership, we’ll uncover how outsiders to the covenant became unexpected agents of divine purpose, moral courage, and justice. Everyone is welcome to celebrate the power of story and the surprising individuals who shape it.

Is that REALLY Jewish?! Late Night Mysteries of the Talmud

Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal

Curious if Judaism really believes in angels with four faces or what the Talmud says about hell, demons, and the supernatural? This isn’t your typical Torah study. Join us for a deep dive into some of the strangest and most fascinating passages in Jewish texts—from Ezekiel’s wild angelic visions to surprising Talmudic teachings on Gehinom and the afterlife. You’ll encounter ancient instructions for seeing demons (yes, involving a black cat placenta) and explore how Talmudic wisdom can offer a path to personal healing in a session titled “Exercising Your Demons.” Perfect for the traditional Shavuot night of learning, this program combines serious scholarship with the wonderfully weird side of Jewish tradition. Whether you’re a seasoned learner or just curious about Judaism’s hidden mysteries, prepare to ask yourself:“Is that really Jewish?!”

5:30 a.m.

Hashkama (Early Morning) Minyan Service

Our night of learning culminates in a serene outdoor Hashkama (Early Morning) Minyan Service, followed by a festive holiday breakfast.

Bluma and Morris J. Moldow L’Dor V’Dor Garden

Tuesday, June 3

9:30 a.m.

Shavuot and Yizkor Memorial Service

Our Shavuot morning service, which will include the Yizkor memorial around 11:45 a.m.—a solemn moment to honor and remember our loved ones who have passed. The service will be followed by a Kiddush lunch.

10:30 a.m.

Book of Ruth Text Study

Dr. Richard Elliott Friedman

Celebrate the conclusion of Shavuot with a meaningful morning that honors both learning and memory. Our distinguished Scholar in Residence, Dr. Richard Elliott Friedman, will lead an engaging discussion on the Book of Ruth, delving into this cherished text traditionally studied on Shavuot for centuries. Dr. Friedman will illuminate Ruth’s timeless themes of loyalty, faith, and belonging—resonant reflections for this harvest festival that marks our receiving of the Torah.

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