HAT1KVA:

THE JEW:

Anniversary of
National Hymn
of Zionism and
Israel

Story on Page 48

A Weekly Review

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C

EWS

of Jewish Events

Threatening
Israel-U.S.
Collision
•
Affirmative Action:
Numerous Clausus
Recollections

Editorials, Page 4

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VOL. LXXII, NO. 4 17515 W. Nine Mile, Suite 865, Southfield, Mich. 48075 424-8833 $12.00 Per Year: This Issue 30° September 30,1977

Hakafot The Glory of Simhat Torah

By SAUL TCHERNIHOVSKY

There's crowding in the house of prayer,
There's light and warmth a-glowing;
The house is filled with festive folk,
All pews and aisle o'erflowing.
The tumult's great and loud the noise,
Against old men are crowding boys,
They even swamp the east wall.

Both girls and women stand penned up,
Each chair and bench invading,
With turbans, kerchiefs of all sorts,
And Sabbath clothes parading...
"Come, cantor, start," a voice rings clear,
And soon, behold! some boys appear,
Judean captivating.

The vanguard marches leisurely,
In rhythmic measure pacing,
Each youth with flag whose gilded top
An apple red is gracing.

They raise their flags, they raise them 'loft,
And sister calls to brother soft,
And brother calls to sister.

The cantor starts. Behind him trail
Old men (their hands they're clapping),
With Torah Scrolls close in their arms,
Encased in embroidered wrapping, .
On whose gilded crowns bright, manifold,
The tiny tinkling bells of gold
Are ringing and are jingling.

The cantor struts, the cantor chants,
The choir raise their voices;
The treasurer and deacon sing,
The merry crowd rejoices.
Tra, ra, ra, ra, and bim, bim, born—
Both young and old are frolicsome,
The rabbi's no exception.

The Torah-bearers slowly tread
Through crowds exultant, thronging,
Who stop them, and kiss ardently
The Torah with great longing.
"God grant.you life this coming year!"—
"Peace be with you, abundant cheer! "-
The maidens, too, are shouting.

The house is filled with light and warmth
And mirth and laughter's buoyance;
One talks, one sings, one shouts: "Please, hush!"
Each counenance beams with joyance.
The cantor sings as he marches on:
"Hosanna, Savior, Holy One!"
With all the crowd responding.

Translated by Harry H. Fein,
From Jewish Publication Society's
. "Sukkot and Simhat Torah Anthology"
Edited by Philip Goodman

Simhat Torah
5738

This Issue in Two Sections

"Rejoicing on Simhat Torah" by Marc Chagall

Four-color eight-page Glassman Oldsmobile
section included in inside pages