Pretty soon, we were down to three, and as the clock hit two, it was just me and one New Zealand bochur
Shavuos is a difficult time for a rav, as he’s expected to lead the shul in learning throughout the night. But as difficult as learning the entire night may be, preparing for the night’s learning is harder. Questions on Yom Tov are numerous, and people’s challenges never take a day off, even on Yom Tov. Even being able to rest and have the energy to stay awake the entire night is challenging.
Yet one memory from learning on Shavuos night years ago helps keep me going.
The year was 1979, and I was learning in yeshivah in Eretz Yisrael. Even then, 45 years ago, the prospect of learning the entire night was a daunting challenge, and I was considering sleeping the night away as I hadn’t succeeded in arranging chavrusas and was facing the daunting possibility of flying solo.
Then the mashgiach approached me.
A group of boys from New Zealand (yes, New Zealand!) were planning to spend Shavuos at the yeshivah, and they needed someone to learn with them. Was I interested?
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