Jewish congregations throughout Israel continued the celebrations of Simchat Torah – the holiday whose name means “Rejoicing in the Torah” – with dance and song Saturday evening. The Simchat Torah dances – called hakafot, or “rounds,” because they often involve circular formations – began on Friday night and entered their second phase – called hakafot shniyot – on Saturday night. Unlike the first round of dancing, which took place on a holiday (a yom tov, or yontif), and therefore could not be accompanied by musical instruments or electronic devices, the hakafot shniyot were carried out after the holiday had ended and these limitations did not apply to them.
In Jerusalem, large-scale hakafot were taking place at Gan Hapaamon park, in the basketball courts. Additional hakafot were taking place at Safra Square, at Zeidenberg Park (Pinat HaGanenet) in Gilo, in the Minhal Kehilati on Yisaschar Street, and at other locations in the city center and in the Katamon (Gonen) neighborhood.
In Akko, Nazareth and Yafo (Jaffa), where Jews and Arabs live side by side, hakafot shniyot were taking take place under guard and with police clearance.
In Tel Aviv, the celebrations in Rabin Square were being attended by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau and other public figures, with police and Border Police providing security.
In Kfar Chabad, thousands were participating in the central event at the Beit Menachem synagogue.
Earlier on Saturday, Jews in synagogues throughout Israel completed the annual cycle of Torah portions which are read every Saturday, and began reading the Torah once again, from Beresheet (Genesis).