Brandeis Students Celebrate Simchat Torah

On Friday afternoon, a stream of students, teachers, and parents poured into the gym for a joyous celebration. After singing a few songs, led by Jonathan Ferris and the middle school band (directed by Ari Micich), students were shown two Torah scrolls: a Sephardic one presented by Abraham and Marina Amar (parents of Ryan, first grade, and Gabriel, third grade) and one from Beth Israel Judea presented by Rabbi Danny Gottlieb. Then the Brandeis Torah scroll was unrolled and carefully held by the eighth graders while students in each grade helped take the community on a "tour" of the Torah. As one, the entire school community chanted the blessings for reading from the Torah; then eighth grader Ruby R.-A. chanted the last lines from the scroll and eighth grader Natalie H. chanted the first lines. Laughter and joy accompanied circle dancing with the Torah scrolls before the celebration concluded. MORE PHOTOS