Learn or Say Tikun Leil Shavuos, What is Preferred?
The source for the minhag to say Tikun Leil Shavuos when we stay awake all night on Shavuos is from the Zohar and the Arizal. Tikun Leil Shavuos covers passukim from every parsha as well as Mishnayos and other source material.
What about those who want to "Shteig" Shavuos night and do some serious learning? There are differences in opinion. The Chida questions those who choose not to say tikun and think that learning is better. He notes the famous story of the Bais Yosef and Reb Shlomo Alkabetz and how they were visited by a Malach when they stayed up saying tikun (learning Chumash and Mishnayos).The Shela HaKadosh, Vilna Gaon, Chasam Sofer, and Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach were also noheg to say Tikun.
On the other hand the Chok Yaakov says that tikun was made for "Amei Ha'aretz" who do not know how to learn in order or them to be involved with torah throughout the night in the best way possible.
Anonymous, 2010-05-19 08:38:12 A yeshiva bocher once asked R' Benzion Abba Shaul, the Rosh Yeshiva of Porat Yosef, for permission if he could learn Gemara B'iyun instead of learning the Tikkun Leil Shavuot. R' Shaul answered him, "Don't be smarter than your grandparents," indicating that there should be no break with this long-standing mesorah, and that to do away with this minhag shows a lack of kavod.
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