Tonight is the last night of the Simchat Beit HaShoevah celebrations of Sukkot, in which the joyful water-drawing ceremonies of the Holy Temple are remembered amidst song and dance. The neighborhood of Meah She'arim in Jerusalem is particularly known for its many Simchat Beit HaShoevah celebrations in various yeshivot on each of the first few nights of the intermediate days of the Sukkot holiday. Several thousand people take part each night. Tomorrow night will be the night of Hoshana Rabba, when all-night Torah study takes the place of the singing and dancing.
Supporters of a Jewish presence in Jericho will commemorate the third anniversary tomorrow of the Palestinian arson of the ancient Shalom al Yisrael synagogue outside the city. The wood synagogue was torched by an Arab mob in October 2000, and the wood structure was burnt to the ground; local Arabs prevented Israeli fire trucks from putting out the fire. The Torah scroll in the Holy Ark was saved, however. Beginning at 4 PM tomorrow and throughout the night, Torah lessons will be held at Hoglah, the closest Jewish location to Jericho. Hoglah currently has two structures and one family, and can be reached by passengers on the #961 bus from Jerusalem who alight at the Mul Nevo army base.
Hundreds of people took part in the joyous dedication of a new structure for the Talmud Torah elementary school in the Gush Katif community of Atzmona today. The school, with 600 students, is 23 years old, but has been working out of caravans until now. Over 100 people arrived from Petach Tikvah to take part in the festivities. The region's other main elementary school is in N'vei Dekalim.
Supporters of a Jewish presence in Jericho will commemorate the third anniversary tomorrow of the Palestinian arson of the ancient Shalom al Yisrael synagogue outside the city. The wood synagogue was torched by an Arab mob in October 2000, and the wood structure was burnt to the ground; local Arabs prevented Israeli fire trucks from putting out the fire. The Torah scroll in the Holy Ark was saved, however. Beginning at 4 PM tomorrow and throughout the night, Torah lessons will be held at Hoglah, the closest Jewish location to Jericho. Hoglah currently has two structures and one family, and can be reached by passengers on the #961 bus from Jerusalem who alight at the Mul Nevo army base.
Hundreds of people took part in the joyous dedication of a new structure for the Talmud Torah elementary school in the Gush Katif community of Atzmona today. The school, with 600 students, is 23 years old, but has been working out of caravans until now. Over 100 people arrived from Petach Tikvah to take part in the festivities. The region's other main elementary school is in N'vei Dekalim.