Simchat Torah Procession, Krakow 1888

This is a postcard published in Krakow, Poland in 1888 depicting a class of boys walking with their teachers to Simchat Torah celebrations. The boys are each carrying a flag attached to a long pole and topped with an apple and a candle. The flags are decorated with various symbols such as lions, crowns, and Stars of David. The boys are wearing knee-length trousers, jackets, and a variety of hats and caps. The teachers are dressed in long, black, belted coats and fedora hats. The boys and their teachers have payot (sidelocks) and are walking with very serious looks on their faces. The text at the bottom of the postcard reads: “Gang zu kufes,” meaning, “going to the hakafot.” Hakafot, the tradition of marching around the synagogue, singing and dancing with the Torah scrolls, is the highlight of the Simchat Torah service.

Discussion Questions

Observation

• What is your first impression when you look at the illustration?
• Describe the people.
  What are they wearing?
  What are they doing?
  What are they holding?
• Describe the setting.
  What is in the background?
• What is written at the bottom?
  What language is it written in?
• Write three adjectives to describe the illustration.

Reading Between the Lines

• What do you think the relationship is between the children and the adults?
• What festival do you think they are celebrating?
  What elements suggest this festival?
• What is Simchat Torah?
  What does it celebrate?
  How is it observed?
• Why are the children carrying flags?
  What is on top of the flags?
• The text reads: "Going to the hakafot."
  What are hakafot? What will the children do at the hakafot?
• The illustration is located in Krakow in 1888.
  Where is the city of Krakow?
  Research the Jewish community of Krakow.
• Look on the National Library of Israel website for other examples of Simchat Torah flags.
  Compare them to the flags that the boys are carrying in this illustration.

Connections

• Have you ever celebrated Simchat Torah?
  How is it celebrated in your community?
  How does it feel to celebrate Simchat Torah?
• Simchat Torah celebrates the completion of the annual reading cycle of the Torah.
  How do you feel when you complete a very big project?
  How do you like to celebrate it?
  Are you ready to do it again or to take on another large project?
• Does your family have origins in Poland? Where in Poland?
  If so, what special stories, objects, or traditions does your family have from there?
  If not, search the website of POLIN – The Museum of the History of Polish Jews. List three interesting things you see or learn on the site.

Creative Ideas

• Design a Simchat Torah flag.
  What design elements will you include?
  What texts will you add?
• Ask your grandparents or other older relatives or friends about how they celebrated Simchat Torah as children.some text
  • What were their customs?
  • Did they carry flags?
  • Did the children receive treats?

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