During the course of the year many festive seudos take place in the Beit Yosef Torah centre, which is a spiritual magnet for the town of Beer Sheva and beyond. Siyumim of masechtos are celebrated with great joy and holy excitement, and are attended by gedolei hador and other respected rabbanim who grace the crowds of hundreds with their presence. The entire city feels the open display of joy and rejoicing in the Torah as yet another masechta is completed. The ‘Kisufim’ band accompanies the events, with a genuine and heartfelt outpouring of love for our holy Torah.

Such a simchah is also felt on the festival of Shavuos, at the time when the entire sefer Tehillim is recited with emotion in honour of the yarhzeit of David haMelech. Other yahrzeits are also marked according to tradition, with festive tables and musical accompaniment. The local residents merit to bask in this spiritual light on various dates; 13th Ellul, the yahrzeit of the Ben Ish Chai; on Sukkos, for the simchas beis ha’shoeiva, which is usually held on the yahrzeit of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov zy”a; 18th Iyar, the hillula of Rabi Shimon bar Yochai – Lag b’Omer.

The connections formed between the celebrants on these and other occasions during the course of the year.