Customs of Shavuos vol.3 no.13
Maariv: In order that the forty ninth day of the Omer finish in its entirety, we daven the maariv of Shavuos only when it is certainly night. All night learning There is a long standing custom to stay awake the first night involved in learning Torah. Some have the custom to follow a specific order of study called Tikun Leil Shavuos. One should be careful not to over extend oneself by staying awake all night and thereby not fulfill other mitzvas properly the next day. Therefore one may want to nap sometime in the evening or just go to sleep later than usual.
Blessings of the morning: If one stayed up the entire night he should only recite the blessing Al netilas yadayim after relieving himself before the morning davening. He should then also say Asher yatsar. He should say the blessing on his talis having in mind to apply the blessing to his talis katan. One should hear Bircas Hatorah, Elokai neshamah, and Hamaavir sheinah from someone who slept during the night.
Dairy foods: Many people have the custom to eat dairy foods sometime during Shavuos. Some eat an entire dairy meal. Others first eat a dairy meal on which they bentch, and after a break they eat a meat meal. The bread used for the dairy meal should not be used at the meat meal. Some just make kiddush on dairy cakes which must have enough flour content to consider that the kiddush is made in a place of a meal.
Hallel: The complete Hallel is recited on both days.
Torah readings: On the first day we read from Exodus (19:1-20:23). On the second day we read from Deuteronomy (14:22-16:17). The maftir on both days is from Numbers (28:26-31). The haftarah of the first day is Ezekiel (1:1-28:3:12), and the haftarah of second day is Habakuk (2:20-3:19). Akdamus is recited before the Torah reading of the first day. In most congregations Yitziv Pisgam is recited during the haftarah of the second day.
Ruth: The scroll of Ruth is read on the second day of Shavuos.
This issue dedicated to the memory of Devorah Felstein of blessed memory.
