Fact one: I live in a quadrant of roads (with a couple of tendrils) that contains two primary schools, a high school, a teacher's training college, an art college, a residential student year-programme school, and two purpose built synagogues. And each of the afore mentioned buildings also houses a synagogue on Saturdays.
Fact Two: Every synagogue has to have a Sefer Torah (Torah Scroll). This is a large scroll of the Five Books Of Moses, otherwise known as The Old Testament, and we read a portion from it every week (several times). It is entirely handwritten on parchment, in a particular style by a qualified scribe. It takes months to complete a Sefer Torah and it's obviously very expensive. Some people commission one in someone's memory or to mark an important event in their lives. This is usually accompanied by a lot of fundraising in order to pay for it. They then usually donate it to a synagogue for a community to use. Some Torah Scrolls are 'saved' from dying communities and re-dedicated to newer, younger communities. Many Torah Scrolls were saved from Europe after the war and taken to the UK, America, Israel, and other places where they were needed.
Dedicating a Sefer Torah is a big thing. It's a party and a celebration. It could be welcoming a scroll lost in Europe after the Holocaust that has recently resurfaced. Or it could be a new scroll arriving after months of fundraising and following the progress of the scribe. It is the custom to hold the Sefer Torah under a wedding canopy and dance it through the streets to its new home. Obviously this is followed by a meal.
As my immediate neighbourhood is intitution heavy, there is relatively little traffic after dark. Did I mention that this all happens after dark? So every so often (with the emphasis on often), we are arroused from our viewing of Eastenders by the loud blaring of European shtetl music from speakers on an adorned van. Bright lights flashing and up to 100 people dancing behind. Think 'Fiddler on the Roof' comes to Notting Hill Carnival. We rush outside to watch. DD stands on the balcony, dancing, clapping and squealing with delight.
Then the procession turns the corner and we return indoors to see if Massood and Jane have finally run off together or not yet.
Fact Two: Every synagogue has to have a Sefer Torah (Torah Scroll). This is a large scroll of the Five Books Of Moses, otherwise known as The Old Testament, and we read a portion from it every week (several times). It is entirely handwritten on parchment, in a particular style by a qualified scribe. It takes months to complete a Sefer Torah and it's obviously very expensive. Some people commission one in someone's memory or to mark an important event in their lives. This is usually accompanied by a lot of fundraising in order to pay for it. They then usually donate it to a synagogue for a community to use. Some Torah Scrolls are 'saved' from dying communities and re-dedicated to newer, younger communities. Many Torah Scrolls were saved from Europe after the war and taken to the UK, America, Israel, and other places where they were needed.
We had one back to back on our block right after Succot and DD#1 was enthralled! She loved the music and the lights and all the people. I was less enthused since it made my conference call very difficult :)
ReplyDeleteShira - yes, you can forget choosing your own music to listen to or having a quiet converstaion.
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