Simchat Torah! Rejoicing with Images of Arks

 

Simchat Torah — Rejoicing in the Torah, the Jewish festival that celebrates the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings (and beginning of the new cycle), falls on Monday-Tuesday.

To mark the occasion, here are some images of the Aron ha Kodesh, or Ark — the place where Torah scrolls are kept — from a number of synagogues around Europe. Some of these synagogues are used for worship; most are used as museums or cultural venues.

The frame of the actual niche or cabinet was often elaborately decorated, to underscore the importance of the Torah.

So Enjoy! Rejoice!