Simhat Torah 1964 was somewhat more of a Purim nature than Simhat Torah. In addition to the usual horseplay, several parents saw fit to have their children accompany them to the bimah when they were accorded various honors. The singing of different holiday melodies during the Musaf sounded a bit like drunken wine songs. The best way to remedy this is to limit the flow of spirits downstairs in time, and perhaps to prepare the major culprits in advance. Most important, it should be emphasized from the pulpit that the nature of merriment on Simhat Torah is distinctive; in keeping with that, both rabbis should actively participate in the dancing and the singing, and perhaps in that way we raise the level of the rest of the gaiety to one that better accords with the dignity of the synagogue.Mr. Max Stern should be brought into all consultations on these matters.NL

In order to avoid the extremes of coldness and wildness at the Simhat Torah services, I suggest the following: 1. There should be more singing and dancing during hakofot both at night and the morning. Everybody should be invited to join. 2. Songs should be mimeographed in advance and distributed so that all may join. 3. Troublemakers should in advance. 4. Two ushers should be "bimah" before and during be seen personally stationed at the Musaf services. Please make note of this and make sure that we discuss it before we leave for summer vacations.