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Simchat Torah


Simchat Torah"Simchat Torah" is a holiday added by the rabbis to celebrate and rejoice over the giving of the Torah - the meaning of its name.

It follows on the heels of Sukkot and Sh'mini Atzeret. The celebration marks the ending of the old year's lexical cycle of Torah readings and the beginning of the new.

All the synagogue's scrolls are brought out and danced around the synagogue. Children often follow carrying apples or miniature Israeli flags. It is a festive time as we thank God for speaking to us, for keeping His Word, for being Faithful.

In our own celebration, we read from the end of the scroll, then while our worship team leads music, we roll the scroll to the beginning, allowing the congregation to file past and view the text.

We then read from the beginning. It is a joyful time.

We are thankful for our God and His Word, particularly His Living Word, the Messiah.

As Micah 5:5a says about Him - "V'zeh shalom; and, This One is Peace."

On this day of “Rejoicing in the Law,” Jews finish reading the last verses of Deuteronomy, then start over by reciting the first verses of Genesis. 

Although essentially a holiday about studying the Torah, it is quite celebratory, bordering on boisterous in some cases. People march and dance with the Torah around the synagogue. 

Simchat Torah Links

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