For Monday Doorways let's focus on the doors of the Torah ark in the synagogue.
After two scrolls were taken out of the aron kodesh (the "holy ark"), the parochet (curtain) was again closed.Enlarge the top picture and you can see the bar mitsvah boy holding a silver yad (pointer) and chanting his Torah portion.
At the end of the readings, the wooden cases of the scrolls are closed.The parochet is drawn to the side, then the wooden holy ark doors are opened.
The scrolls are carefully put inside the ark while prayers are sung.Then the doors and the curtain are closed.
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Mazal tov to my young neighbor, the bar mitsvah boy!
He did well and made us proud.
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This indoor tour can be for Our World Tuesday too.
Lots more posts about the Torah here.
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I always like to see a synagogue, it happens rarely here.
ReplyDeleteIt looks as though they barely gathered a minyon.
ReplyDeleteThe last Bar Mitzvah I attended the grandmothers took the scrolls from the ark. This looks like a much more orthodox congregation.
I was once honoured to attend a bat mitzvah and found it most fascinating even though I understood nothing that was being said - or sung.
ReplyDeleteVP, it happens rarely for me too, to be inside a synagogue during prayer time.
ReplyDeleteMartha, there were lots more men than the necessary minyan (ten men). You just can't see them in my photos from the upper women's balcony.
Yes, here in the one synagogue in the village it is the traditional Sephardic rite. Men downstairs, women upstairs.
Lesley, glad you got to see a bat mitsvah, even without understanding the Hebrew.
I learn from you every day Dina...thank you!
ReplyDeleteTheanne and Baron, good, I'm glad. All of blogland is a circulation of learning.
ReplyDeleteThis is some special doors! And new things to learn from you:-)
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a bar mitsvah. I think it's very impressive and beautiful.Is there also a ceremony for girls?
ReplyDeleteWil, I think Reform Jews have a bat mitsvah for girls that is just like for boys. But the Orthodox, no.
ReplyDeleteGirls have the ceremony at age 12, boys at 13.
Several days a week there are bar mitsvahs at the Western Wall.
Very interesting! I have Jewish friends and have attended services in the synagogue a couple of times with them. The chanting was superb!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this glimpse of a world I haven't seen before. Please have a good Tuesday.
ReplyDeleteThe timber of the doors is very rich and deep. I would leave the timber unadorned, and just cover the doors with the curtain, when the scrolls have been returned to the ark.
ReplyDeleteMany years ago I went to one of my favorite student;s Bat Mitsvah. Oh, my, all those words from memory. The party afterwards I will never forget when the family raised her up in a chair and processed around the hall. It was so wonderful to see and experience. She is now working as an art curator in France. Such a fine post...but all of your are awesome. genie
ReplyDeleteyou brought back many childhood memories, Dina. . .
ReplyDeleteAloha from Waikiki
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Tradition and ceremony, so important to mark the steps of our lives. Thanks Dina.
ReplyDeleteThese are such interesting shots! The kind of scene I like to witness when I'm travelling in countries with different traditions.
ReplyDeleteA wonderful glimpse into your world, Dina. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteKay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie’s Guide to Adventurous Travel
So interesting. The place is so holy, a lot of prayers are in its walls and doors.
ReplyDeleteI still remember your son's Bar Mitzvah and the very moving speech he gave after his reading.
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