The reading of the Torah will be permitted at the Wailing Wall only on the first and seventh days of Succoth, the Feast of Tabernacles, which Jewry throughout the world is celebrating this week. The first day of the Feast of Tabernacles, which is celebrated for eight days, occurred Saturday and the seventh day will occur next Saturday. The reading will not be permitted in the interim, according to a government ruling communicated to Chief Rabbi A. J. Kook. The reason for the order was given that the authorities consider the Ark may be brought to the Wall only on the Sabbath and recognized holidays, the interval, Chol-Hamoed, not being considered by the authorities as a recognized holiday. It was the original intention of the government to prohibit the ceremonies with the citron and palm branch, a part of the holiday services, but this (Continued on Page 4) ban was withdrawn after Rabbi Kook declined to enforce the new prohibitions, refusing to serve as a messenger for the "government’s medieval restrictions."
This was the only disturbing element in the celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles in Palestine. Synagogues throughout the country were overcrowded.
In Tel Aviv, the all-Jewish city, there are a greater number of tabernacles this year than in former years, and a gala spirit prevailed. The youth thronged the streets and the beaches, dancing the Hora, attracting the admiration of a great number of tourists and visitors from abroad.
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