A CLOSE-UP LOOK AT SIMHAT TORAH
The Torah
The Torah is comprised of the first five books of the Bible - Genesis (B'reishit), Exodus (Sh'mot), Leviticus (Vayikra), Numbers (B'midbar) and Deuteronomy (D'varim). The Torah is often described as a gift from God. There are Jews who take this literally, believing that God handed Moses the Torah at Mt. Sinai. Others view it as a more figurative gift of sacred literature, written by divinely inspired people.
The Torah scroll is handled with special reverence. It is customary to rise when it is taken from the ark and walked around the synagogue. The Torah is never placed on the ground, is often kissed by touching the decorative cover or scroll with a prayerbook or ends of a tallit (prayershawl) and then touching the object to one’s lips. Click on this link to visit a synagogue and peek inside a Torah. |
Reading the Torah
Each Shabbat, Jewish congregations around the world read one parashah (weekly portion) of the Torah. The division of readings was decided by rabbis living approximately 2,000 years ago. By following the prescribed cycle, each year the entire Torah is read. On Simhat Torah, the last verses of the Torah are read from the final parashah in Deuteronomy (D’varim). Then, the first verses of the Torah are read from the first parashah of Genesis (B’reishit).
Click on this link to learn more about the customs of reading the end of the Torah on Simhat Torah, as well as immediately starting it again. Click on this link to watch the Torah reading in a Simhat Torah service - it's a bit livelier than a normal Torah reading because of the holiday. It starts with the blessing traditionally recited before reading Torah, includes the passage at the end of Deuteronomy and the one at the beginning of Genesis, and concludes with the blessing after the Torah reading. Feel free to stop the video at 17:57 (which will provide four minutes of viewing time). |
Dancing with the Torah
On Simhat Torah, the holiday customs center on the Torah, both at night and again the next morning. The most memorable tradition is the hakafah (encirclement or circuit) made when the Torah is taken out of the ark and paraded around the synagogue, and sometimes into the street. In most synagogues, every single Torah owned by the congregation is taken out of the ark for seven hakafot around the sanctuary. Members of the congregation hold the Torah, parading and dancing. Children are often given festive flags (or bring homemade ones from school).
Join the fun by checking out these short videos of Simhat Torah dancing around the world: A congregation in Washngton, DC A synagogue in Los Angeles, CA A synagogue in Iran A synagogue in India A huge community celbration in Tel Aviv, Israel |
Children's Flags
It's unclear where and why the custom of children waving flags during the parade around the synagogue. At the earliest, it seems to be a custom dating back 300 years or so. Certainly, the colorful banners add to the festive nature of the holiday.
Click this link to learn how to easily make a Simhat Torah flag... no sticks involved! Click this link to view an exhibit in Israel on the history of Simhat Torah flags. |
Want to know more?
Click here for the "My Jewish Learning" webpage with LOTS of links to great articles and information on Simhat Torah!
You'll also find information about another holiday, Sh'mini Atzeret, which falls either on the day of, or the day before Simhat Torah. |
Jewish Education Center of Cleveland (JECC)
www.jecc.org
www.jecc.org