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By Rav Moshe Pinchasi
[1] When should we pray Arvit or recite Kiddush on Shavu’ot night?
One should wait with the Kiddush until the earliest definition starbreak (25 min.- 40 min. after sunset).
The Magen Avraham cites the Emek Beracha that one should wait until it is completely night (Tzet HaKochavim) before saying Kiddush on Shavu’ot night as the Sefira should be complete before Shavu’ot begins. The Taz adds that one should even wait until night befire praying Arvit on Lel Shavu’ot. However, the Ya’avetz and others maintain that Shavu’ot is no different than any other Yom Tov. L’Halacha, the Sephardic Poskim write that one should not start Kiddush before starbreak but one can follow the earliest definition of starbreak.
[2] What if I forgot to say Ya’ale V’Yavo in Birkat HaMazon?
If one realized before starting the last Beracha – “HaTov V’Hametiv” – there is a special nussah one can insert there. Otherwise, one doesn’t have to repeat Birkat HaMazon, however, according to Hacham Ben Tziyon one should eat a little more bread and make a proper Birkat HaMazon. In any event, women do not need to repeat Birkat Hamazon in such a scenario.
It seems from the Shulhan Aruch that one needs to repeat Birkat HaMazon, however because this is a subject of great debate among the Poskim and we don’t want to make unnecessary Berachot, the Poskim write that one should refrain from repeating Birkat HaMazon – unless one can eat some more bread as was mentioned above.
[3] If I stayed up the entire night, should I recite Birkot HaShahar and Birkot HaTorah?
The Sephardic custom is to recite all Berachot with the exclusion of the Beracha of Netillat Yadayim and – if one didn’t go to the bathroom – Asher Yatzar. One should pause learning at dawn and recite Birkot HaTorah then.