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Monday, October 16, 2006

Jews celebrate yearlong Torah reading

By ELIZABETH CASES
Alligator Contributing Writer

While Gator fans cheered for a win against Auburn University on Saturday night, members of the Jewish community were cheering for something different.

More than 300 people observed Simchat Torah at the Lubavitch-Chabad Jewish Center to celebrate the end of the yearlong cycle of reading the Torah, the Jewish book of law.

The celebration of Simchat Torah symbolizes the continuity of the Jewish people, said UF management senior Isaac Sapoznik.

"It is great to be celebrating with so many other Jewish people," he said. "It allows people to have a good time while celebrating a good thing."

Rabbi Berl Goldman sang the Jewish song "Shalom Alehem," providing the crowd with music to sing and dance to.

Jackie Ginzburg, president of UF's Lubavitch-Chabad Student Group, said that this event is one of the most successful the group puts on throughout the year.

"This is an important event in Gainesville, because many Jewish students may feel uncomfortable going to religious services, but this service is a party," she said.

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