Celebrating Cultures across the University of Birmingham
Simchat Torah or Simhat Torah (28-29 September) is a Jewish holiday that celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle. The main celebrations of Simchat Torah take place in the synagogue during evening and morning services. In Orthodox, as well as many conservative congregations, this is the only time … Continue reading “Simchat Torah”
Engelbert Humperdinck (1 September 1854 – 27 September 1921) was a German composer, most widely known for his opera Hansel and Gretel. He produced his first composition aged 7, though his parents disapproved of his plans for a career in music and encouraged him to study architecture. Hänsel und Gretel, conducted by Richard Strauss, was produced at … Continue reading “Engelbert Humperdinck centenary”
Sukkot (20-27 September) commemorates the biblical story of the years that the Jews spent in the desert on their way to the Promised Land, and celebrates the way in which God protected them under difficult desert conditions. Also known as the Feast of Tabernacles, or the Feast of Booths, it is a festival for giving thanks for many things, like … Continue reading “Sukkot”
The Attica Prison riot occurred at the Attica Correctional Facility in Attica, New York on 9 September 1971. It was the bloodiest encounter between Americans since the US Civil War, leaving 43 people dead – including ten prison officers and civilian employees, and 33 inmates – and 89 seriously injured. The revolt was based upon prisoners’ demands for … Continue reading “50 years on from the Attica Prison riot”
