Concerned bout vour Memory.

Join the Club!

pates.
In congregations where the mem-
bers are especially enthusiastic, the
hakafot can last for hours, so have a
cup of coffee before you head off for
services. In neighborhoods where
there are several synagogues, some
people like to drop in on various
congregations to observe and join
in the celebrations.
As with all Jewish holidays, the
service includes a reading of the
relevant Torah portion. On Simchat
Torah, however, we read the entire
weekly Torah portion, which oth-
erwise is read only on Shabbat. In
this case, that portion is the last
parshah (portion) of the Torah,
VeZot HaBerachah, which com-
pletes the annual cycle.
The custom on Simchat Torah is
to call up to the Torah every person
in the synagogue, member or not
(in Orthodox and other traditional
congregations, it's men only). The
person who receives the final aliyah
is called up with great ceremony
and is known by the honorific title,
Chatan Torah ("bridegroom of the
Torah"). A talit is spread over the
person's head to form a chuppah
(wedding canopy) and the Torah is
read. Finally, all of the children in
the synagogue (that is, below bar or
bat mitzvah age), accompanied by
an adult, are called up to the Torah.
This is known as kol ha-ne'arim
("all the youth"). The same chuppah
is held over their heads, the adult
recites the blessing and the last
subsection is again read. Then, the
children are blessed and in some
synagogues showered with candy.
(Many dentists report this as their
favorite Jewish holiday.)
Because Judaism regards the
study of Torah as a never-ending
obligation, the reading of the final
Torah portion is followed by a read-
ing of the very first Torah portion,
Genesis, Parashat Bereshit. The
person called up for this is known
by the honorific title of Chatan
Bereshit, and is ceremonially called
up and also stands under a chup-
pah during the reading.
The service then continues with
the usual holiday prayers and
everyone goes home to a festive
meal.
The rest of the day is observed
in the same manner as Shemini
Atzeret.

TheJVS 'NternorN Club can
help if you're concerned
about your memory. If vou
Answ e• yes to any of the
questions below, \\ C can
teach you techniques to
enhance your memory.

Do you frequently.....

Join us for an
introductory meeting! Forget where you put your keys?

Thursday, October 18

10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Jvs
29699 Southfield Road
Southfield, MI 48076

et l you •oc

Forget people's names?

Get frustrated when you can't

remember things?

INJewish
" - ze

Federation
Aoirtvolttgr: Oetroit

MEMORY CLUB

A Nt-It4PAM

WERE PART OF THE TEAM

C,VMMX7-4x* AIWA1 IXACAW: 813MM

"The real reason to 90 is for the '(UP c . afe$."

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today

or phone

JNonline.us

800.875.6621

tvg

Style magazine, Oct. 6th

tokig$,

•
EPFECT FOP:

• Baby or Wedding
Shower
• Bar/Bat Mitzvahs
• Birthday Parties
• Corporate Events

(too

buy 1 Wrc.ake

.yet a Se Okla
'curcake FrEE

No special orders.
Exp. 10/31/07

Open

7

as a week (4,

wWw:curcaKeStation;c0e,h-..

06 N. ON Woodward Pirreio9flaw 24$-593-1903

October 4 • 2007

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