FAMILY SIMCHAT TORAH SERVICE & RELIGIOUS SCHOOL CONSECRATION

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Join Temple Emanu-El for a Family Simchat Torah Service and Consecration Service for new Religious School students.

Sh’mini Atzeret is a time for reflecting on the seven previous days of the festival of Sukkot. Sh’mini Atzeret literally means “the assembly of the eighth (day).” Rabbinic literature explains the holiday this way: “Sukkot is a holiday intended for all of mankind, but when Sukkot is over, the Creator invites the Jewish people to stay for an extra day, for a more intimate celebration.”

Simchat Torah is a joyful celebration, often symbolized by dancing. Hebrew for “Rejoicing in the Law,” Simchat Torah also celebrates the completion of reading the Book of Deuteronomy (the fifth book of the Torah) and starting from the beginning with the Book of Genesis. In Israel and in many communities around the world, Simchat Torah is celebrated on the same day as Sh’mini Atzeret, making them a one-day festival.

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Questions? Please contact us at
212-744-1400 or temple@emanuelnyc.org.

OUR CLERGY

Joshua M. Davidson

Peter and Mary Kalikow Senior Rabbinic Chair

Sarah H. Reines

Associate Rabbi

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At Temple Emanu-El, we encourage our members, young and old, to gather in an atmosphere both warm and awe-inspiring, as we share our moments of joy as well as our times of sadness, immerse ourselves in the richness and beauty of our tradition, and act upon our tradition’s values in the world around us.