By Ben B.
The Jewish community at The Family Foundation School traveled off campus in early October to Temple Agudas Achim in Livingston Manor, N.Y. for the celebration of Simchat Torah.
The term literally means “rejoicing in the Torah,” and is the culmination of Sukkot, the celebration of the harvest.
During the evening the last chapter in the Torah in the Book of Deuteronomy is read aloud. Afterwards, the Torah scroll is removed from the ark for seven processions around the synagogue. The students joined the congregation in the procession with singing, dancing, and music-making with maracas and shakers.
The band “Saints of Swing” performed at the service. They were accompanied by Cantor Marian Kleinman with Rabbi Fred Pomerantz and his grandson Jeremy on drums.
Jeremy has a style that works particularly well with the Saints of Swing.
Following the service, the students joined the rest of the congregation for food and drink.
