How to Celebrate the Jewish Holiday Simchat Torah
Simchat Torah literally means Happiness of the Torah. It marks the conclusion of a year's reading of the Torah--the five books of Moses--and the immediate beginning of the next year's reading. It is meant to be a completely joyous holiday, and is marked by merriment and dancing.
According to myjewishlearning.com, "Simchat Torah conveys a clear message about the centrality of Torah in Jewish life. It is both a source of Jewish identity and a precious gift from God. Simchat Torah is the day on which the whole community gathers to come into direct contact with the Torah and to express our joy in having received it."
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Things You'll Need
- Torah--a parchment scroll written and rolled according to ritual specifications by a special scribe, containing all the words of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
- Someone who knows how to read Torah
- Friends and family
Instructions
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Pray Maariv, the evening service.
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Dance! To be precise, dance seven hakafot, or processions. People holding the Torahs (however many the synagogue has) make a full circle around the sanctuary of the synagogue. Then everyone sings and dances. Some synagogues make each hakafah, or procession, as long as a half hour, for a total of 3 1/2 hours of dancing. Each hakafah begins with a short call to prayer, and is followed by whatever singing and dancing people are inspired to do.
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It is a great honor to hold the Torah for one of the hakafot. Anyone who is physically able should try to hold the Torah. The circles of dancing form around the people holding the Torahs, then snake energetically around the room.
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When the seven hakafot are done--often late into the evening on the eve of the holiday--read the final parsha (chapter) in Deuteronomy. This is the very end of the Torah, and describes the death of Moses and his vision for the Jewish people's entry into the Promised Land (modern-day Israel). The Torah does not actually describe this entry, however.
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From a second Torah, read the first parsha (chapter) in Genesis. This is the very beginning of the Torah, and tells the biblical creation story: the seven days of creation, culminating in the day of rest, the Sabbath.
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The same service is repeated in the morning, on the actual day of Simchat Torah. More Torah reading, and more merriment.
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It is a powerful image to finish the Torah and then begin it anew right away. Some synagogues unscroll the entire Torah, congregants holding up the parchment as it circles around the room. This is a very literal way to see the continuity of the Torah, and to symbolize the unending lifelong study of Torah.
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