Saranac Synagogue News: Shavuos & Shabbos Shavuos (May 21-23, 2026 /5-7 Sivan, 5786)
David K
Shalom Aleichem!
B"H we expect to have minyanim throughout Shavuot (Except Thursday night).
Donate to the Shul (NOT ON SHABBOS OR HOLIDAYS PLEASE!) • http://tinyurl.com/donate2saranac
Help ensure our continued operations with a monthly recurring contribution. Sponsorships and dedications are available.
~~~ Shavuos First Night - Thursday, May 21 ~~~
Make sure you have an existing flame, or a long-burning candle that can last two days, ready before the holiday begins.
Make an Eruv Tavshilin before the holiday so you can cook on Yom Tov for Shabbos.
Candle lighting: 8:20 PM, “Lehadlik ner shel yom tov” and “Shehecheyanu.”
Sunset 8:38 PM. We delay davening Ma’ariv until 9:39 PM. (Some delay only until 9:27 PM.)
We are not planning to have Mincha and Ma’ariv services at Saranac tonight. BUT:
We WILL have Tikkun Leil Shavuos learning throughout the night in Shul. Please join us for all or part of the night!
~~~ Shavuos First Day - Friday, May 22 ~~~
Zeman Shema: 9:29 AM. Say Shema on time before services.
Services begin: 10 AM. Please be prompt!
Zeman Tefilah: 10:43 AM.
Reading the Ten Commandments will be approximately 11:15 AM.
There will be a nice dairy kiddush with cheesecake and ice cream (Chalav Yisroel) at Saranac after services.
Friday Afternoon and Evening:
Light candles (and cook meals) with fire transferred from the previously existing flame.
Make all preparations for Shabbos before 8:39 PM.
Candle lighting: 8:21 PM, “Lehadlik ner shel Shabbos v’yom tov” and “Shehecheyanu.”
~~~ Shavuos Second Night, and Erev Shabbos ~~~
Mincha, Kabbalas Shabbos and Ma’ariv at Saranac - 8:30 PM.
Sunset: 8:39 PM.
~~~ Shabbos & Shavuos Second Day - Saturday, May 23 ~~~
Zeman Shema: 9:28 AM. Say Shema on time before services.
Services begin: 10 AM. Please be prompt!
Zeman Tefilah: 10:43 AM.
Saranac’s minhag is to recite Megillas Rus. We will recite at least the first chapter together.
We recite Yizkor today.
Chatzos: 1:12 PM. (To avoid fasting past Chatzos on Shabbos, We recommend coffee or a snack before davening.)
Sunset: 8:40 PM.
Shabbos/Holiday ends: Shul tradition: 9:40 PM. 42 min.: 9:22 PM. 72 min.: 9:52 PM.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Thank you, everyone, for coming and for helping out!
Join us for a yummy Ice Cream and Cheesecake Social, after services on Friday!
Everyone is invited to join us for Shabbos kiddush, and we are grateful for our sponsors.
The Story of Shavuot
By Isaac Jacobs
On the first of Sivan, the first day of the third month after the exodus from Egypt, the children of Israel reached the desert of Sinai and camped near the mountain.
During the few weeks of traveling in the desert under Divine protection, with daily miracles, such as the manna and the quail, the miraculous sweetening of the water, the defeat of Amalek, and the crossing of the Red Sea, the Jewish people had become more and more conscious of G-d.
Their faith grew more intense daily, until they attained a standard of holiness, solidarity and unity, never achieved before or after by any other nation.
Moses ascended Mount Sinai, and G-d spoke to him the following words: "Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 'You have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto Myself. Now, therefore, if you will hearken unto My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be Mine own treasure from among all peoples; for all the earth is Mine. You shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.'"
Moses returned from Sinai and called for the elders of the people and put all these words of G-d before them. Unanimously, with one voice and one mind, the people answered: Naaseh Venishma, "Everything G-d has said, we shall do and understand."
Thus they accepted the Torah outright, with all its precepts, not even asking for a detailed enumeration of the obligations and duties it involved.
When Israel had voiced its eagerness to receive the Torah, G-d spoke to Moses again: "Go unto the people, and sanctify them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments, and be ready for the third day; for on the third day the L-rd will come down in the sight of all the people upon Mount Sinai. And you shalt set bounds unto the people round about saying: Take heed to yourselves, that you go not up onto the Mount, or touch the border of it; whatsoever touches the Mount shall surely die."
The dawn of the third day broke amid thunder and lightning that filled the air. Heavy clouds hung over the mountain, and the steadily growing sounds of the Shofar made the people shake and tremble with fear. Moses led the children of Israel out of the camp and placed them at the foot of Mount Sinai, which was all covered by smoke and was quaking, for G-d had descended upon it in fire.
The sound of the Shofar grew louder, but suddenly all sounds ceased, and an absolute silence ensued; and then G-d proclaimed the Ten Commandments.
The entire people heard the words of G-d, and they became frightened.
They begged Moses to be the intermediary between G-d and them, for if G-d Himself would continue to give them the entire Torah, they would surely die. Moses told them not to be afraid, for G-d had revealed Himself to them so that they would fear Him and not sin.
Then G-d asked Moses to ascend the mountain; for he alone was able to stand in the presence of G-d. There Moses was to receive the two tablets containing the Ten Commandments and the entire Torah, to teach it to the children of Israel.
Moses went up the mountain and stayed there forty days and forty nights, without food or sleep, for he had become like an angel. During this time, G-d revealed to Moses the entire Torah, with all its laws and the interpretations thereof.
Finally, G-d gave Moses the two stone Tables of Testimony, containing the Ten Commandments, written by G-d Himself.
David Kunkel, Media Coordinator / Webmaster / Gabbai, for: Shmuel Rashkin, President • Reuven Alt, Vice President • Mendel Gurary, Rabbinical Advisor
The Saranac Synagogue • Congregation Achei Tmimim • 85 Saranac Ave • Buffalo, NY 14216
www.saranacsynagogue.org • www.facebook.com/saranacsynagogue