Why was Simchat Torah the most publicly celebrated Jewish holiday in the Soviet Union? What was it that Soviet Jewry found so meaningful? Rabbi Dr. David Frankel, senior lecturer in Bible at Schechter, describes this fascinating piece of Soviet Jewish history and explains how we can deepen the meaning of our own Simchat Torah celebrations today.
David Frankel is Associate Professor of Bible at the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies. He has been on the faculty since 1992. He earned his PhD from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem under the direction of Prof. Moshe Weinfeld. His publications include “The Murmuring Stories of the Priestly School,” and “The Land of Canaan and the Destiny of Israel.” From 1991 to 1996, Frankel was rabbi of Congregation Shevet Achim in Gilo, Jerusalem.