Simchat Torah or Simchas Torah (שמחת תורה) is a Jewish holiday marking the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle. Simchat Torah is Hebrew for "rejoicing with the Torah". On the morning of Simchat Torah, the last parashah of Deuteronomy and the first parashah of Genesis are read out in the synagogue. Most communities have a special Torah reading on the eve of Simchat Torah. At both the morning and evening services in the synagogue, the ark is opened, and the Torah scrolls are carried around the synagogue in seven circuits, accompanied by singing and dancing.
In Israel and in Reform congregations both in Israel and the Diaspora, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are celebrated on the same day.
In Orthodox and Conservative Jewish synagogues, each circuit is announced by a few melodious invocations imploring God to Hoshiah Na ("Save us") and ending with the refrain, Aneinu B'yom Koreinu ("Answer us on the day we call"). In Orthodox synagogues, the hakafot are accompanied by traditional chants, including biblical and liturgical verses and songs about the Torah, the goodness of God, Messianic yearnings, and prayers for the restoration of the House of David and the Temple in Jerusalem. Congregations may also sing other, popular songs during the dancing. Children are often given flags, candies and treats. The vigor of the dancing and degree of festive merriment varies with congregational temperament.
In Orthodox synagogues, the dancing is mainly carried out by men and boys; very young girls may also be sent in to dance on their fathers' shoulders. Women and older girls form their own dancing circles on the other side of a mechitza (partition) in accordance with the rules of tzniut (modesty). In Conservative congregations, men and women dance together. In some congregations, the Torah scrolls are carried out into the streets and the dancing may continue far into the evening.
After the hakafot, a portion of the last parashah of the Torah, V'Zot HaBerachah (This is the Blessing...) in Deuteronomy is read. The part read is often 33:1-34:12, but may vary by synagogue custom, although Deuteronomy is never read to the end in the evening. Simchat Torah is the only day on which the Torah is read during the evening service in Orthodox and Conservative Jewish synagogues.
In some congregations, the Kohanim deliver their blessing as usual during the Musaf service of Simchat Torah. (In Orthodox congregations in Israel, the Kohanim deliver their blessing at both Shacharit and Musaf services.)Some congregations serve hard liquor along with other refreshments during the Simchat Torah dancing. The Orthodox Union recently advised its member synagogues not to serve alcohol to minors.
The blessing of the children is omitted from the 1985 edition of Conservative Judaism's Siddur Sim Shalom prayer book, but was reinstated in later versions of Sim Shalom. Most Conservative congregations still perform it.
In the ninth century, some European Jewish communities assigned a special reading from the Prophets to be read on this day. In the fourteenth century the reading of Genesis was added immediately upon the completion of Deuteronomy. In southern European countries it then became a general practice to remove all the Torah scrolls from the ark, and to sing a separate hymn for each scroll. In northern European countries, those who had finished the reading of Deuteronomy made donations to the synagogue, after which the wealthier members of the community would give a dinner for friends and acquaintances. By the end of the fifteenth century it was a common though not universal practice for the children to tear down and burn the sukkahs on Simchat Torah (Joseph Colon, Responsa, No. 26); and shortly afterward many Rabbis permitted dancing in the synagogue at this festival (ib.).
In the sixteenth century the practice of taking out the scrolls and filing solemnly around the bimah on the night of the 23nd of Tishri became customary; and on the same evening, after the procession, a number of passages from the Torah were read.
In the 17th century, Rebecca bat Meir Tiktiner of Prague composed a poem about Simhat Torah.
In Poland it was the custom to sell to the members of the congregation, on the 23nd of Tishri, the privilege of executing various functions during the services on Shabbats and festivals; i.e., the synagogue used this occasion as a fund-raiser. People who made these donations were called up to the Torah and given a congregational blessing.
It became a custom for every male member of the congregation to read from the Torah, the passage Deut. 33:1-29 being repeated as many times as was necessary for this purpose. Today this practice is still followed in Orthodox synagogues; Conservative synagogues adapt this practice by also including women. One person is given the privilege of completing the reading of the Law with Deut. 34:1-12; he receives the name of Chatan Torah (bridegroom of the Torah). After him comes the member who recommences the reading of the Torah with Gen. 1. He is called the Chatan Bereshit (bridegroom of Genesis).
Dancing in the street with the Torah become part the holiday's ritual in various Jewish congregations in the United States as well.As festive and memorable point on the Jewish calendar, the celebration of Simchat Torah has endured among many Jews who have shown declining interest in other aspects of Jewish observance. In 1996, the Israel Postal Authority issued a postage stamp to honor the holiday.
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