Theodor Herzl on a 1902 Warsaw Simchat Torah flag and the end of the Torah reading cycle

The founder of the World Zionist Organization, Theodor Herzl, is shown alongside the biblical figures of Moses and Aaron on a flag printed in Warsaw for the celebration of Simchat Torah in 1902. Imagine Herzl's glory at that moment, when his face found itself between a biblical prophet and an Old Testament high priest!

I remind you that today the annual cycle of the reading of the Torah comes to its close with the festival of Simchat Torah, one of the merriest and therefore best-loved holidays. By design, the festival is meant to be worthy of King Solomon; as for the Torah itself, its reading never stops: immediately after the end of the Book of Deuteronomy (Devarim), the reading of the Book of Genesis (Bereshit) begins. In the old days this was even done from memory, lest the Devil be given grounds for his favourite assertion that the Jews are glad when the reading of the Torah comes to an end.