No 8

(Simchat Torah)

This is one of the most joyful feasts in the Jewish calendar. The words “Simchat Torah” mean “Rejoicing over the Law”. While the word Torah literally means teaching, doctrine or instruction, it specifically refers to the five books of Moses – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. This feast marks the annual completion of the public reading of the Torah. The feast of Simchat Torah is not contained in the Bible because it originated in the ninth or tenth century and is celebrated right after the feast of Tabernacles on Tishri 23 (September/October). However, public reading of the law is contained in several places in the Bible, notably: “Then afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel with the women and the little ones and the strangers who were living among them.” (Josh 8:34, 35) In synagogues today, this feast includes the joyful carrying of the Torah scrolls around the auditorium seven times in a procession known as “hakkafot”. Children sing and carry flags decorated with apples and pictures of Torah scrolls. The final reading of the closing year is done by a man who receives the highly respected honour of Chatan Torah (Bridegroom of the Torah). The feast of Simchat Torah also signals the beginning of the next cycle of reading and this portion is read by another man who has the honoured title of “Chatan Bereshit” (Bridegroom of the Beginning). All around, this is a joyful feast that Jewish families celebrate to thank God for His Law.