Tikkun Leil Shavuot 2023

Justice, Justice You Shall Pursue

9pm-midnight: New North London Synagogue
Midnight onwards: the home of Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg and Nicky Solomon

Come and join us for an evening of learning on the theme of ‘justice’ – with inspiring speakers, delicious nosh and plenty of space for discussion and debate.

The Programme

Part 1: New North London Synagogue

9pm Maariv

9.30-9.45pm Introduction to the evening

9.45-10.30pm ‘Officers and judges shall you appoint’ (Devarim 16:18)
Vicky Fox (Chief Executive of the Supreme Court), Clive Sheldon KC, Rabbi Daniela Kolodny and Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg
Who is the ‘you’ who makes the appointments? We take a round-the-globe look at this contentious question, considering how judges are appointed:
* according to Maimonides 
* in the United States, for the Supreme Court
* in the UK
* in Israel

10.30-10.45pm Break with refreshments

10.45-11.30pm 

No dice players or pigeon racers: who is a credible witness?
Rabbi Zahavit Shalev
The list starts with dice players and pigeon racers but extends to include women, slaves, and people with various kinds of disabilities. What can we learn about the law and about personhood from examining categories of people permitted and excluded from giving testimony under Jewish law?

OR

Should justice be according to Higher Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence, or Human Intelligence?
Nicola Solomon and Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg
A look at the fundamentals of who has the right to make judgements.

11.30pm-midnight Something I Misjudged 
We’ll end this first part of the evening with a light session, in which a few of our members tell a story about a time in their life when their judgement may have let them down. 
 
Part 2: Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg and Nicky Solomon's home
 
From 12.15am Refreshments and coffee, then late-night study, discussion and song
 
3.30am Shacharit