Resurrecting a campus event dead for seven years, Yeshiva opened its doors to students and local Kollel couples alike for Simchas Torah this year, on October 9-10. More than 100 students, and married couples chose to celebrate the festival in Yeshiva, and were joined by RIETS Roshei HaYeshiva Rabbis Hershel Schachter, Yitzchok Cohen and Hershel Reichman.

The decision to conduct Hakafot on campus for the first time since 1995 was spurred by the growing demand of both married and single Yeshiva students who live on campus, and would otherwise be forced to spend the holidays at alternate locations, according to Rabbi Eliezer Zwickler, who organized this year's proceedings along with mashgiach ruchani Rabbi Yosef Blau.

"The community has grown beyond what anyone's expected it to in the past," explained Zwickler, who teaches Jewish History at the Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy. "There are so many couples and families here that it turned into a community."

Simchas Torah celebrates the annual completion of the recitation of the Torah, and is perhaps most well known for the ecstatic hakafot-dancing-featured in the festival services.

In past years, the majority of students have generally been forced to spend the holiday with their friends, family or relatives. Others have chosen to attend the highly popular Blanche Schreiber Torah Tours Program, sponsored by the Yeshiva-affiliated Max Stern Division of Communal Services, which brings students to synagogues and educational institutions across the country to aid in their programming and to help bolster the students' Jewish identity.

Upon hearing that hakafot would be conducted at Yeshiva, three Roshei HaYeshiva enthusiastically decided to remain on campus for the duration of the holiday, and delivered lectures in the spirit of the occasion over the course of the two days.

Zwickler emphasized that the Simchas Torah celebration would never have materialized on campus were it not for the wholehearted support of the Yeshiva administration. Director of Supporting Service Administration Jeffrey Rosengarten, University Dean of Students David Himber, Director of Food Services Jacob Lieberman and Director of Facilities Management Jeffrey Socol all played critical roles in organizing the technical aspects of the two-day event, said Zwickler.

Students who remained on campus for the festival characterized the services and lectures as exceptionally spirited and energetic. "I really enjoyed it," recalled Yeshiva College junior Tzvi Sinensky, "It was very leibdik [lively]." Yaacov Rydzinski, a YC sophomore, agreed. "Simchas Torah really is all about Torah, so it makes most sense to spend it in Yeshiva," he commented. "I really think they should continue to have it every year."

In response to this desire, Zwickler expressed hope that Simchas Torah would continue to be celebrated on campus every year, asserting that "every yeshiva should have a Simchas Torah."

"This [year's observance of Simchas Torah] was a combined function of Yeshiva and the Yeshiva community," he continued. "It just demonstrates the impact that the Yeshiva community can have on the student body."