Question of the Week:

What is the name of the Jewish
architect who designed the Whitney
Museum in New York?

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Elizabeth Applebaum
AppleTree Editor

1. The Torah has many names,
but did you know that one of
these is actually a Greek term?
Pentateuch is from the Greek
meaning "five volumes," refer-
ring, of course, to Genesis, Exo-
dus, Leviticus, Numbers and

2. "Bible" is probably the most
popular word for the book, but
you would be hard pressed to
find many references to "Bible"
in Jewish writings. Most often, it
is called the Torah.

3. Judaism holds that all figures
in the Torah were real people —
except one. Do you know who?
;See bottom of story for answer).

4. Contrary to popular opinion,
the word "Torah" does not mean
"law." It means "teaching."

5. A definite order exists as to
who should read from the Torah
when it's removed from the ark.
A bridegroom who was married
that week, or who is about to be
married, gets first preference; the
bar or bat mitzvah is second; a
new parent is third; one absent
ing yahrtzeit for a parent is
fourth; and fifth is a person who
has just finished sitting shiva.

6. The ner tumid, the eternal
light found above Torah scrolls in
synagogues and temples every-
where, is a relatively new tradi-
tion, coming into use beginning
in the 18th century.

You can learn a lot by learning a little.
In Fact-A-Day, AppleTree provides you with fascinating tidbits
about any Jewish subject, past or present. This month, in honor of
Shavuot, when God gave the Torah to the Jewish people, you'll
find a collection of 31 — one for each day of May — great
facts about the Torah and Mount Sinai.
Do you have a suggestion for Fact-A-Day? If so, please drop us
a line at AppleTree Facts, 27676 Franklin Road, Southfield, MI
48034, fax (248) 354-6069, call (248) 354-6060, ext. 308
(voice-mail only), or e-mail philapple@earthlink.net

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