SHEMINI ATZERET - SIMCHAT TORAH - REJOICING OF THE LAW

“I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure.”  

Psalm 119:162 (NKJV)

Simchat Torah (Rejoicing of the Law) is celebrated on the eighth day of Sukkot (Oct. 5,2015). In the Diaspora it is celebrated a day later. Simchat Torah marks the conclusion of the annual Torah reading cycle and the beginning of a new one.

During Temple times, 70 sacrifices were offered during the seven days of Sukkot - more than on any other holiday. Some believe it was to be an act of gratefulness for a successful harvest that was coupled with a prayer for abundance in the upcoming year. Talmudic scholars believe that the 70 sacrifices were to bring merit to the proverbial 70 nations of the world. Today, congregants pray for the gentile nations.

Rabbis have tried to answer why God commanded an eighth day, even though He stipulated that Sukkot was only seven days. According to them, God asked His people to remain with Him for one more day. The practice of the annual reading cycle was established between the sixth and eleventh century AD, and therefore is not mentioned in the Talmud. In the Middle Ages, some communities lit bonfires, using the dismantled and disposable parts of the sukkah.

On the evening of Simchat Torah, (Sunday evening) all the Torah scrolls are taken out of the Ark and carried around the bimah (reader’s platform). This is the only night of the year that this is done. During the seven-fold procession (hakkafot) a special chant is sung. Each procession is separated by an interlude of singing and dancing in which the people carrying the Torah scrolls are joined by others. 

The children carry Simchat Torah flags or miniature scrolls.

Some congregations read Deuteronomy 33:1-17; it is the only time the reading of the Law takes place in the evenings. During the morning service, another seven-fold procession takes place, followed by reading Deuteronomy 33 and 34. It is customary for all males to be called to the Reading of the Law. Some synagogues allow both men and women to come to the bimah.

During the Kol Hane’arim (Calling up the children) ceremony, the children stand together under a large woollen prayer shawl, while Jacob’s blessing is recited:

“May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day... may he bless these boys [and girls]. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly upon the earth." Genesis 48: 15-16 (NIV)

The last section of the Pentateuch is reserved for the Chatan Torah (Bridegroom of the Law). After the honoured congregant finishes the reading, the congregation says in a loud voice, “Hazak, hazak, ve’nithazek! (Be strong, be strong and let us be strengthened!)”

Now a second scroll (Genesis) is taken and the new reading cycle begins.

The person honoured to read Genesis 1-2:3 is called the Chatan Bereshit  (Bridegroom of the beginning). A third person, the Maftir is called to read the prophetic reading from Joshua chapter 1. In the past, the two “grooms” had to provide a lavish feast for the whole congregation, but nowadays only wine and light food is served.

In Israel it is customary to hold another, outdoor, hakkafot on the night after Simchat Torah. In the synagogues, the Torah is read on Shabbat, most holidays and on the Monday and Thursday mornings. This custom goes back to ancient times when most Jews were farmers or shepherds. On these days they brought their fare to the market. After having sold their produce, the men gathered to read the Torah.

This article is taken from the book "Remember Observe, Rejoice, a Guide to the Jewish Feasts, holidays, Memorial Days and Events." © Petra van der Zande. 

ISBN 978-965-7542-61-3

Shavuot - the Feast of Weeks

In Israel, Shavuot is celebrated only for one day - on the 6^th day of the Hebrew month of Sivan (This year on May 20.) In the Diaspora, Jews celebrate it for two days. The Christian holiday of Pentecost always falls on the 7^th Sunday after Easter which in 2018, is on the same Sunday as Shavuot.

The Hebrew word for Shavuot means “weeks” and refers to the counting of seven weeks from the second day of the Pesach (Passover) holiday. This period is called the “Counting of the Omer”. Shavuot is the only Pilgrim festival of which the Bible doesn’t give a specific date on which to celebrate.

The Festival has different names:

 à Chag Shavuot (Festival of Weeks)

à Chag ha Katsir (Reaping holiday)

à Yom ha Bikkurim (day of first fruits)

à Pentecost (Greek for 50)

According to a certain stream in Judaism: Torah must be reshit (first). This is linked to a set of customs, whose first letters form the word “acharit” (last).

1. Akdamot - a liturgical poem, read in synagogue.

2. Chalav - milk. The Rabbis reasoned that because the Israelites didn’t have time to prepare meat for Shavuot, they only consumed dairy products. It’s a popular custom to eat cheese cake and blintzes (pancakes filled with cheese) during Shavuot.

3. Ruth - the scroll of Ruth is read in synagogues. She became a member of the Jewish people by accepting the Torah. Converts to Judaism are honoured at this time. Tradition tells us that King David (form the line of Boaz and Ruth) was born and died on Shavuot. Many people visit his grave on Mount Zion in Jerusalem.

4. Yerek - greenery. Homes and synagogues are decorated with greenery. The bimah* (platform) where the Torah readings take place now looks like a chuppah* (wedding canopy). Moses, the matchmaker, brought the Jewish people (bride) to the chuppah (Mount Sinai) to marry the bridegroom (God). The Torah was the ketubah* (wedding contract).

5. Torah study (all night). Hourly subjects are taught by different teachers and ‘the night passes like a dream’.

Exceprt from the book "Remember, Observe, Rejoice - a guide to the Jewish Feasts, holidays, memorial days and events" by Petra van der Zande.