THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Tradition of Simhat Torah Flags
(Continued from Page 1)
Interestingly enough, in
the early past of the 20th
Century on the east side of
New York, flags were fre-
quently provided by various
commercial companies for
the kids. One well known
flag bears the imprint of the
State Bank of New York,
strong as the Rock of Gib-
raltar, along with the tradi-
tional song "Sisu VeSimkhu
Be Simhat Torah." From an
advertising perspective
kosher wine and candles
were often promoted
through flags freely distri-
buted in the 1940s and
1950s. Today the advertis-
ing use of the flags seems to
have disappeared but the
message of the holiday still
comes through loud and
clear.
In order to ensure that
children also feel the joy
of Simhat Torah, their
use of the flags has been
encouraged. In fact,
those who waved their
flags the most were fre-
quently rewarded with
candles and sweets. A
picture from Amsterdam
in the last century even
shows sweetcakes being
thrown at children on the
Simhat Torah march. The
flag, however, may have
a deeper significance.
Since Simhat Torah is a
time in which the founda-
tion of Judaism, the Torah,
is emphasized, it is impor-
tant that there be a blend-
ing of the Torah with the
joy and beauty that stems
from it. The Torah is not just
a set of regulations by which
Jews live, but it strikes a
sense of balance between
regularity and spontaneity,
between austerity and joy.
There are times of solem-
nity, which it promulgates,
but there are also times of
rejoicing.
Forthe Jew, a unique as-
pect of the rejoicing is that it
takes place within the con-
text of the synagogue and
with the holiest of all
Jewish objects, the Torah.
Children are encouraged to
participate in this exhilara-
tion of Simhat Torah in a
variety of ways. One is
through flag waving in the
Torah processional.
The flag is a symbol of a
Silent Moment
spiritual outlook not only of
a people but also of the joy of
Law Debated
the Torah, God's gift to
in NJ Court
mankind. As the children
NEWARK
A excitedly weave themselves
psychologist who studied into the joy of the celebra-
the effect of a moment of si- tion, they too begin to sense
lence testified in a federal the all-encompassing web of
district court last week that the teachings of the Torah.
he had found no coercion for Rather than a mere scroll
prayer or religious ac-
tivities.
The psychologist, Dr.
Thomas C. Thompson, was
the opening witness .for the
defense in a trial on the con-
.' stitutionality of a New Jer-
sey statute mandating one
minute of silence in public
schools for contemplation
and introspection.
Meanwhile, Rev. George
D. Younger, chief executive
officer of the American Bap-
tist Churches in New Jersey
and a witness for the pro-
secution, said the state's
minute of silence law would
inevitably lead to prayer in
the public schools and a vio-
lation of the constitutional
amendment calling for the
separation of church and
state.
hidden away in the ark, it
appears as a living and vib-
rant entity which helps to
direct and guide our lives.
As the children hold
their flags aloft, they are
expressing a pride which
hopefully will take on
deeper and deeper sig-
nificance as they mature
and learn more of the
Torah and the spiritual
heritage it offers.
Just the other day, while
wandering through an older
section of Jerusalem, I
overheard the voice of gent-
lemen at prayer. Locating
the sound, I entered a build-
ing and found a group of
Tunisian Jews deep in
prayer. The festive decora-
tions in their small syna-
gogue were Simhat Torah
flags used since the estab-
lishment of the state of Is-
rael; 35 in all gaily bedeck-
ing the walls.
One, in particular, was
quite touching — a drawing
by E.M. Lillien of a man en-
visioning Zion Reborn.
Copied from an early print
of the artist, it caught for me
at that moment of the spirit
of the past, present and fu-
ture.
I understood then what
the flag really means. Sym-
bolically, as a standard it
roots us in the reality of
today but it also points us to
a new and more creative
tomorrow.
As we wave our flags this
year we can proudly reaf-
firm the fullness of Zion and
the joy of the Torah which
stems from it, reaching out
to Jews the world over.
Friday, September 30, 1983 11
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