Simchat Torah
REJOICING WITH THE TORAH
God asks anyone who has made a pilgrimage for Sukkot to remain with Him one extra day. The joyous character of Simchat Torah and its rituals at the ending and beginning of the Torah reading cycle has made it one of the most widely celebrated rituals of the Jewish festival cycle.On the eighth day hold a solemn gathering and don't work at your occupations.
-NUM. 29:35
Traditions and Customs
SHEMINI ATZERET
Shemini Atzeret is a "hag" - a full festival day. The usual rituals of kiddush, and candlelighting are obeserved and the requirement not to work. It is called Shemini Hag ha'Atzeret in the kiddush and the Amidah. The She-he-heyanu blessing is spoken at candlelighting and/or at kiddush.
At the time of the Musaf service, we say the prayer for rain (Tefillat Geshem) for the first time. The transition to the prayer for dew is made at the beginning of Passover. Each of these prayers notes a change in the agricultural year in Israel, where it doesn't rain in summer. In this time the heavens are deciding how much rain we will have during the year. Though we may indicate our needs for water with rituals of the temple - water libation and the four species - we do not actually pray for rain until the end of our living outside the sukkah. "Praise God who brings forth the winds and brings down the rain," we chant. Next to Purim, there is no holiday which generates more joyous abandon in dance and celebration than Simchat Torah.
In the evening we begin the celebration of Simchat Torah. Following the Amidah, the hakkafot (circlings) begin with the recital of songs in praise of God and the Torah. The congragation follows the leader and repeats each verse. On recital of the verse Vayhi binsoa ha-aron ("It came to pass whenever the ark..."), the ark is opened up, and the Torah scrolls are removed from the ark. (In some congregations the ark is never left empty - either a lighted candle or a Bible is left inside.) It is a honour to carry a Torah scroll during a hakkafot, and even more of a honour to lead the procession.
There are several people holding the Torahs and moving around the synagogue. The rest of the congregation kiss the Torah scrolls as they pass.
Following the procession the leader sings a song and the congregation joins in with the song and dances. The dancing can be spontaneous, and the different groups usually change continuously. When the leaders become tired from their dancing, they pass the Torah scrolls on to others.
Eventually the first hakkafot stops - there is no set time for this - and the Torah scrolls are passed on. The children are especially encouraged to participate, carrying flags, candles, and baby Torahs. There is more dancing with each hakkafot, and so on into the night.
Following the seventh and last hakkafot, all the Torahs except one are returned to the ark, and this one is used for the service. The Torah is usually read during the day, but during Simchat Torah we read it at night. The Torah is often called a bride by tradition. Weddings are also often done at night, which is perhaps the origin of why we read it at night during this time.
The morning service is the same as any holiday, except there are again hakkafot. And during this holiday there are also many Aliyot, as everyone present must be honoured with one.
When everyone has received an Aliyah, there follows a special calling up of the children named Kol ha-Ne'arim - "All the Children". A tallit is spread over their heads like a canopy and they accompany an adult in saying the blessings. This is intended to make them feel enclosed and secure beneath the wings of the adults.
The wedding imagery is continued during the day with bringing up Aliyah called "groom of the Torah". In the same way as with a Jewish wedding, the individual is sometimes pelted with candy and sweets. The Torah is rolled back to the beginning, or a second one is brought. The Aliyah for the first reading is called "groom of Genesis". The entire congregation then recites "v'hi erev, v'hi boker" - "It was evening and it was morning... the first day." This is then repeated.
Simchat Torah is about the renewal of life - of love, the beginning of spiritual practice. The poet Shelley wrote, "When winter comes, can spring be far behind?" The end of the Torah comes; the end of teaching. In the very next breath, the Torah begins again. The spring is therefore symbolically reborn.
One important thing to be observed - Simchat Torah is intended to be crowded, so use a space that is a bit too small for everyone invited so that people can crowd in and be intimate and close, and so that music is loud and strong to encourage an informal atmosphere, and one that is spiritually oriented and not heavily burdened with ritual.
Glossary of Terms and Traditions of Interest
- Chatan Torah - Bridegroom of the Torah - the one who blesses - reads the final section of Deuteronomy.
- Chatan Beresheet - Refers to the "Bridegroom of Genesis", the one who reads the first section of Genesis on Simchat Torah. It is considered a great honour to be asked to do this reading and blessing.
- Degel - A flag given to children, which they wave while taking part in the seven hakkafot of the Simchat Torah.
- Hakkafot - Circling dances with the Torah.
- Maysheev ha-ruach u'moreed ha-gashem - The most important phrase of the ritual of Praying for Rain, meaning "You who cause the wind to blow and the rain to fall".
- Simchat Torah - Means "Torah Joy".
