Spirituality

CLASSES THAT MAKE YOU
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HOLIDAY 101

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Simchat Torah

A celebration to mark completing
of the Torah-reading cycle.

Elizabeth Applebaum

Special to the Jewish News

W

hen: the 23rd of Tishrei,
which this year starts at
sundown, Thursday, Sept.
30, until sundown, Friday, Sept. 31.

What It Celebrates: Simchat Torah
("Rejoicing with the Torah") is not a
separate holiday, but rather a celebra-
tion of the completion of the annual
Torah-reading cycle. Simchat Torah
is not mandated by the Torah, and
in fact, is not even mentioned in the
Torah. It is completely rabbinic in
origin.
In Israel, Simchat Torah is com-
bined with Shemini Atzeret ("the
Eighth Day of Assembly"), where-
as in the diaspora, it is
combined with the second
day of Shemini Atzeret.
It is the only time
when we read the
Torah at night.

How We
Celebrate:
Because
Simchat Torah
is also Shemini
Atzeret, the
liturgy is that
of Shemini
Atzeret. The dis-
tinction between the two is
that the Simchat Torah service
includes hakafot, a series of proces-
sions around the sanctuary by congre-
gants carrying Torah scrolls.
The parade is done seven times,
each time with different people hold-
ing the scrolls. Each circuit is accom-
panied by the chanting of verses,
mostly from Psalms, followed by the
spirited singing of hymns, along with
dancing and merriment. Everyone in
the synagogue joins in.
In congregations where the mem-
bers are especially enthusiastic (and
energetic), the hakafot can last for
hours. In neighborhoods with many
synagogues, people often go from
synagogue to synagogue, joining the
various hakafot celebrations.
On all other Jewish holidays, the
synagogue service includes a read-

ing of the relevant Torah portion.
On Simchat Torah, we read an entire
sedrah (Torah portion), as would be
done on Shabbat. In this case, it is the
last sedrah, V'Zot Ha-Bracha, which
completes the Torah cycle.
The custom on Simchat Torah is
to call up to the Torah every person
in the synagogue, member or not (in
Orthodox and traditional congrega-
tions, its men only). The person who
received the final aliyah is called up
with great ceremony and is known
by the honorific title Chatan Torah
("bridegroom of the Torah"). An
unfolded taut is held aloft over the
table where the Torah is read, to form
a chuppah, or canopy.
Then, all of the children (that
is, below bar or bat mitzvah
age) in the synagogue,
accompanied by an
adult, are called up.
This is known
as kol ha-
ne'arim ("all
the youth").
The same
chuppah is
held over their
heads. The
adult recites
the blessings
and the last
subsection
is again read.
Then, the children
are blessed, and in some syna-
gogues, showered with candy.
Because Judaism regards the study
of Torah as a never-ending obliga-
tion, the reading of the final Torah
portion is followed immediately by
a reading of the very first Torah por-
tion, Parshat Beresheet, Genesis. The
person assigned this aliyah is known
by the honorific title Chatan Beresheet
("Genesis Bridegroom"), is called up
with great ceremony and also stands
under a chuppah. As the Torah reader
ends each paragraph in the Torah por-
tion, the congregants sing a traditional
chant.
The service then continues with
the usual holiday prayers and every-
one goes home to a festive meal. The
remainder of the day is observed in the
same manner as Shemini Atzeret.

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