Shabbat laps

In the synagogue in the name of Abraham our father there were two holy cabinets, one for new Torah books that were kosher to read, and one for ancient and old ones, the letters of which had fallen out of them and were invalid for reading. And these Torah scrolls were used exclusively for circumambulating with "Simchat Torah" only.

Many years ago, we chanced upon the synagogue for a Shabbat prayer with a guest who was not from Hebron. And the guest had a face like the face of a scholar. When he was called to take out the Torah scroll, he did not wait for sundown and behaved "like a householder", he went straight to the second holy ark and took out from it an ancient Torah scroll. The public saw and began to whisper to each other and he paid no attention to them. He took the Torah book in his arms and began: "May the Lord grow with me..." Then he walked with the book to the platform and said to place it on the table. The rabbi intervened and whispered to the guest that there are invalid books in that closet and they are only for circumambulation.

The guest heard and said: "Then we will make laps in it, as is customary in such a Torah book." The worshipers looked at Timhon: what does the laps belong to? And on Saturday? and began to cheer and argue. Seeing this, the rabbi admonished the public and said: "Perhaps the man is right. A Torah book that has already been taken out of the Ark of the Covenant, no one insults it and no one returns it for nothing, and at least circumambulation should be done with it."

The guest steps with the Torah book on his arms and the public follows him in a circle. Going round and round, until they circled the stage seven times, and they sing in a loud voice: "Lord, fight my adversary, fight my warriors", etc.

When the Shabbat prayer was over, everyone left for their homes. They looked this way and that way and did not see him as a guest. The next day, on the first day, it became known to the public that that Sabbath was intended for a disaster among the Jews, but when the rioters arrived at the Synagogue in the name of Avraham Avino and heard the sound of the song sung by the worshipers during the circumambulation, their minds became weak and great fear fell upon them and they returned as they had come.

The word went out that that guest with a strange face was none other than one of Hebron's two: and in memory of the miracle that happened, they set laps on that Sabbath every year.

(The Hebron book 'Agots from the Day' by Dr. Shaz Kahana)