Shavuot night is a time of preparation for receiving the Torah. The giving of the Torah is not just an event that took place thousands of years ago; rather, each year on this day, we receive the Torah anew, and are like a bride entering the wedding canopy with her husband, that is, with God.

On Shavuot night, the Jewish people spend their time studying the Torah, which is likened to the jewel worn by a bride:

Rabbi Shimon would sit and engage in Torah study on the night when the bride joins her husband [that is, on Shavuot]. As the Sages taught: On the night before a bride is to come under the wedding canopy with her husband, all those friends [that is, Torah scholars] who are close to the bride [that is, the community of Israel] must remain with her all night and rejoice with her during her preparations. They engage in the Torah, Prophets, and Writings, in interpretations of the verses, and in the concealed wisdom, because these are her enhancements and jewels. She enters and stands at the head of her attendants and is adorned by them. She rejoices with them all that night, and the next day she enters the wedding canopy accompanied by them. They are known as the wedding party. When she enters the wedding canopy, the Holy One, blessed be He, asks about them and blesses them, and crowns them with the crown of the bride. Fortunate is their lot.

Those who study Torah on this night receive protection:

Sit, honored ones, sit, and we will renew the preparation of the bride on this night. As everyone who joins her on this night will be protected, both above and below, for the entire year, and will end his year in peace. With regard to such people it is written (Psalms 34:8–9): “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them. Consider and see that the Lord is good.” (Zohar 1:8a)

Further reading: For more on learning Torah throughout Shavuot night, see A Concise Guide to Halakha, p. 349.

Beyond feeling joy and gratitude at having received the Torah, we must strive to make it a meaningful part of our lives. Shavuot is the day of judgment with regard to the extent of our connection to Torah:

One is obligated to greatly rejoice on this festival because it is the day on which we merited to receive the crown of Torah…. Nevertheless, it is written: “Rejoice with trembling” (Psalms 2:11); this joy is a spiritual joy of thanks and praise to God for giving us the Torah. One’s heart is roused and he resolves to become sanctified, to rectify his ways, and to be crowned with the crown of Torah, in order to fulfill: “And you shall ponder it day and night” (Joshua 1:8). For this holy day is the day of judgment. (Rabbi Yeshaya HaLevi Horowitz, Shenei Luĥot HaBerit, Masekhet Shavuot, Ner Mitzva)