Tuesday at sunset is the beginning of Simchat Torah.

This is another holiday that may show up on your calendar.

Simchat Torah is the celebration of the end of the yearly Torah readings and the beginning of the next cycle.

The celebration of Simchat Torah made me think of synagogues and the picture above. During my first trip to Israel we stopped at Nazareth Village and a picture was taken of me reading from a scroll in the synagogue they constructed at their interpretive site.

During the celebration of Simchat Torah the scrolls are taken from the ark in the synagogue and carried around the sanctuary in seven circles.

I have also visited the ruins of several synagogues in Israel. Above is the synagogue at Migdal (Magdala). The object on the floor is the Magdala Stone which was most likely used as a reading desk or podium for a seated reader.

The Magdala Stone has some interesting carvings on it that depict scenes from the Temple in Jerusalem.

I have also visited the synagogue at Capernaum. This structure is from the 4th century, but was built over an earlier synagogue that was visited by Christ.

Steven