WHEN IS SIMCHAT TORAH AND WHY DO WE CELEBRATE IT?
Simchat Torah falls on the last of the two days yom tov at the end of Sukkot, on the 23rd day of
Tishrei.
It is the festival where we finish reading the Torah
and start again from the beginning. Its name means ‘Rejoicing of the Torah’
[being happy about the Torah].
WHAT DO WE DO ON SIMCHAT TORAH?
Just like during the seven days of Sukkot and on
Shemini Atzeret, on Simchat Torah people make hakafot (walk or dance in circles) around the
bimah of the synagogue carrying the Torah and sometimes flags and caramel
apples.
On Simchat Torah the hakafot include special dancing
with the Torahs held up in the air. Children often join in and ride on their
fathers' shoulders during this.
Honor Members of the Congregation: Chatan Torah and Chatan Bereishit
Each Shabbat and festival, members of the
congregation are honored by being called up to read the Torah. This is called
being given an aliyah.
On Simchat Torah the aliyot (plural of 'aliyah') are
even more special. Two people in the congregation are chosen to be chatanim (bridegrooms): one is called the Chatan
Torah (Bridegroom of the Torah/Law) and the other is the Chatan Bereshit
(Bridegroom of Genesis).
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