Rejoicing of the Torah

Simchat Torah is the joyous holiday marking the completion and immediate restart of the annual Torah reading cycle. The last verses of Deuteronomy are read, and without pause, the first verses of Genesis begin — demonstrating that Torah study is a circle with no end, an eternal journey of learning and discovery. The celebrations of Simchat Torah are among the most exuberant in Jewish life. Torah scrolls are removed from the ark and carried in seven circuits (hakafot) around the synagogue, accompanied by singing, dancing, and clapping. Children wave flags, adults dance with the heavy scrolls held high, and the atmosphere is one of uninhibited joy. In many communities, the dancing spills out into the streets. Two honorees are selected on Simchat Torah: the Chatan Torah (Groom of the Torah), who reads the final portion, and the Chatan Bereshit (Groom of Genesis), who reads the opening verses. These honors are considered among the most prestigious in the synagogue calendar, and the recipients often sponsor festive meals for the entire community. In Israel, Simchat Torah falls on the eighth day of Sukkot (Shemini Atzeret), and the hakafot in major cities are massive public celebrations. The second hakafot (hakafot shniyot), held the following evening, have become major cultural events in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, with live music, dancing, and crowds of thousands — a beautiful expression of the Israeli love affair with both tradition and celebration.