Sukot - Simchat Torah

Simchat Torah.pdf

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BULLETIN 241102.pdf

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Simchat Torah - Rejoicing Over the Torah

What appears to be the last day of Sukot, and what in the Diaspora is the "second" day of Shmini Atzeret, is called Simchat Torah, literally "the joy of / over Torah." On every Shabat during the year we read a portion of the Torah, called a "Parsha." Simchat Torah is the day we complete the cycle by reading the final Parsha in the Torah, which is known as "V'zot haBracha." Additionally, Simchat Torah marks the renewal of the cycle as we begin again with the first Parsha in the Torah, which is known as "b'Reshiyt."

The central theme of this holiday is our rejoicing over the Torah and our completion of the Torah. There are several unique customs on this day. Firstly, in contrast to Shabat and regular holidays when one or two Torah scrolls are removed from the ark, on this day, most congregations have the custom to take out all of the scrolls. After the scrolls are removed, we are told in Shulchan Aruch (Orech Chayim 669) that they are carried round and around the "Bimah," the special "table" located in the center of the sanctuary upon which the Torah is read. These circlings are called "Hakafot." This is done for the purpose of rejoicing over the scrolls. The Siddur of the Ba'al HaTanya adds that the custom is to make seven of these joyous Hakafot and to sing and dance before the scrolls with great joy and exultation.