Question of the Week:

Which famed financier, who became a million-
aire before he was 32, was the son of a promi-
nent surgeon in the Confederate Army?

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PJ°u-'8

:JOINSUV

4.(5 5;1.

,

Elizabeth Applebaum
AppleTree Editor

I

The beauty and uniqueness of Simchat Torah.

is time to put on your
fancy clothes and
snazzy shoes ... and
your kippa. We're going
dancing.
Simchat Torah is one
time that's no work and all
fun. The holiday begin-
ning on the 23rd of
Tishrei (this year starting
Saturday night, Oct. 2),
marks our completion of
reading the Torah.
For many reasons, Sim-
chat Torah ("Rejoicing
with the Torah") is unlike
any other Jewish holiday.
Even in the former Soviet
Union, it was a cause for
celebration: each Simchat
Torah during the 1960s
and 1970s, more than
30,000 Jews would gath-
er outside Archipova
Street and dance at the
Great Synagogue in .
Moscow.
So why is this holiday
so unique?
First of all, the Torah
does not mandate it. In
fact, it's not even men-
tioned in the Torah. Sim-
chat Torah is completely
rabbinic in origin.
Second, it is the only
time during the year when
we read from the Torah at
night (and finish the con-
cluding portion by the
next morning).
Third, it's a rare opportu-
nity to actually see all the
Torah scrolls that are in

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Detroit Jewish News

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