Thousands in Second Hakafot in Jerusalem
October 20, 2011
Thousands participated Thursday evening in the Second Hakafot at Gan HaPaamon, Liberty Bell Park, in Jerusalem, marking the conclusion of Simchat Torah and Sukkot.
For the 30th year running, the event was sponsored by US philanthropist Eugen Gluck, who also dedicated a first of its kind Talmudic Garden in Beit El this week.
Among the participants were the chief rabbis, Mayor Nir Barkat, and National Union Chairman MK Yaakov Katz, who is a personal a friend of Gluck’s. This year, the day was celebrated with the aid of unique Torah scrolls that survived the Holocaust, which normally reside at the Heikhal Shlomo Synagogue in Jerusalem. One of the hakafot was dedicated to freed soldier Gilad Shalit.
‘The holiday was a particularly joyous one with the return of Gilad Shalit from captivity,” said Barkat. “There is no one who did not have tears in his eyes at the sight of Gilad returning and there is no one in the nation who does not have difficulty at the heavy price we paid for the move. The Nation of Israel was together and united on the Sukkot holiday.”
Rav Yonah Metzger, Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi, said, “We are indeed very happy at the return of Shalit from prison to his home,” and noted that Shalit was freed on the day in Sukkot which is dedicated to the biblical Joseph, who was also imprisoned. However, he added, “we are still sad at the heavy price that we had to pay and still sad that Jonathan Pollard is still not at home. It is time that he come home to the Land of Israel.”
Second Hakafot were held all over Israel, and also held in Mitzpe Hila, where the Shalits reside. Gilad’s brother Yoel took part and danced with a Torah scroll in his arms. The Shalit family explained that Gilad could not take part in large scale public events at this time.
Similar posts
-
Israel Is Held To A Higher Standard Than Any Country
April 25, 2024In the intricate tapestry of global affairs, one nation stands out for enduring scrutiny and condem...
-
Israel Has The Most Moral Military In The World
April 10, 2024In the heart of a region often riddled with conflict, Israel stands out not only for its technologi...
-
The Resilience of the Israeli People
April 2, 2024Visitors from around the world have seen Hamas's October 7th Massacre's destruction in southern Isr...
-
Israel: Small Size, Big Impact
March 21, 2024Nestled along the eastern edge of the Mediterranean Sea, Israel is a land of immense historical sig...
-
Israelis Are Fighting For Their Lives
February 21, 2024By Jonathan S. Tobin The world looks a lot different from Kibbutz Kfar Aza than it does in the U...
-
Over 2 Million Arabs Live In Israel
January 23, 2024In the complex landscape of the Middle East, where diverse cultures and identities intersect, Israe...
-
'Fauda' Star Idan Amedi Injured Fighting in Gaza
January 8, 2024Despite the severity of his injuries, Amedi's father assured Israeli news channels that his life is...
-
Israel Is A Great Country To Live In
December 28, 2023Nestled at the crossroads of the Middle East, Israel stands as a vibrant and dynamic nation, offeri...