All About Simchat Torah

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Simchat Torah is the joyous day for celebrating the loving instructions and teachings of Yahweh. What is the origin of this day? How should a believer celebrate the Torah? These questions and more are answered below. Your understanding of Simchat Torah will be as easy as learning your A,B,Cs.

A - All about the festival, a simple overview

B - Biblical references concerning the holy day

C - Celebration information on how to make the day special

A All about the festival

v This is an extra-Biblical holy day that is spent celebrating the Torah

v In Israel this holy day coincides with Shemini Atzeret

v It is believed that Rabbinic Judaism created this holiday during the Middle ages, yet other sources trace the start of this special occasion to before Yahshua’s time

v Ordinarily this day falls on the 23rd day of the seventh month, often called Tishri. Outside of the land of Israel Simchat Torah is the day after Shemini Atzeret or is considered to be the ninth day of Sukkot.

v “Simchat” or “simhat” is the Hebrew word for “joy” or rejoicing

v “Torah” is the Hebrew word for teaching and instruction often wrongly translated as “law” in English Bibles. It commonly refers to the first five books of the Bible.

v This is a festive and joyous day that is usually observed in the synagogue

v Traditionally, this day is one of the most happy days of the Hebrew year

v On this day the annual reading of the Torah is completed and immediately begun again

v Though this is considered the ninth day of Sukkot, the scriptures are clear that Sukkot is seven days and this is a separate and extra day of worship

v According to Devarim (Deuteronomy) 31:9-13 the whole Torah is to be read during the feast of Sukkot, this reading has developed into the day of Simchat Torah

v Simchat Torah celebrations are usually full of live music and dancing along with a Torah scroll procession, food, and rejoicing

v This is a day to honor the eternal word of Yahweh and the Word made flesh - Yahshua

v “The Talmud states that the last portion of Deuteronomy and the first portion of Genesis is read on this day “to refute Satan” who might have otherwise have claimed that the Hebrews who were happy only to have finished the Torah, but were unwilling to begin anew,” Encyclopedia Judaica

v Special rituals and traditions have developed over the years that center around this special day

v In the late 1960s this day became the most widely celebrated festival by Russian Jews. During this time the pictures of the thousands of Russian Jews celebrating the Torah drew international attention to their plight.

B Biblical references

v Genesis 48:15, “Then he blessed Joseph and said, “May the Elohim before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the Elohim who has been my shepherd all my life to this day, the Angel who has delivered me from all harm —may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly upon the earth.”

v Deuteronomy 31:9-12, “So Moses wrote down this law and gave it to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and to all the elders of Israel. Then Moses commanded them: “At the end of every seven years, in the year for canceling debts, during the Feast of Tabernacles, when all Israel comes to appear before Yahweh your Elohim at the place he will choose, you shall read this law before them in their hearing. Assemble the people—men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns—so they can listen and learn to fear Yahweh your Elohim and follow carefully all the words of this law.”

v Nehemiah 8:18, “Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of Elohim. They celebrated the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly.”

v Malachi 4:1-6, “Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,” says Yahweh Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things,” says Yahweh Almighty. “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel. See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of Yahweh. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

v Psalm 119:103, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

v Psalm 119:11, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”

v Psalm 119:18, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”

v Matthew 5:17-19, ““Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

v 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to show thyself approved unto Elohim, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

C Celebration information

v This is a great day to renew a commitment to reading through the Word of Yahweh once a year by following the planned portion readings of Judaism

v An updated weekly list of portion readings is available at www.emetministries.com

v Traditionally in the synagogue the last section of the book of Deuteronomy and the first section of Genesis are read on this day

v This day can be welcomed in the home by a yontif seder: candles, wine, challah, and a blessing for the season

v The Chasidic Jews have long held Simchat Torah day as one of the most spectacular festivals– partying with live music, dancing, champagne, and singing. This celebration has even spilled out from the temples and into the streets.

v The Chasidic model of celebration on this day has inspired all Bible believers to be spontaneous in their worship and celebration of Yahweh and His word

v The mood of this day is similar to the traditional Jewish wedding…very festive.

v The person honored with reading the last portion of Deuteronomy is called the “bride of the Torah” or “Kallah Torah.” While the person reading the first section of Genesis is usually called the groom of Creation” or “Chatan Beresheet.”

v Some synagogues unroll their huge Torah scrolls and parade them around the room

v In Orthodox congregations this day is so joyful that men, women, and children are allowed to sit together and sing or dance together

v The Torah scrolls are traditionally paraded around the synagogue seven times on this day – this is called “hakafot”

v Simchat Torah is also a very special day for children because on this day children are lauded with bags and bags of sweet candy. Candy is given out on this day to teach children the sweetness of the Torah.

v Honey is also traditionally eaten on this day

v Children are also called up and a large prayer shawl is draped over them while a blessing is recited over the children. This blessing is that the children’s love of the Torah will grow and mature. There is also the blessing spoken over Ephraim and Manasseh as found in Genesis 48:16.

v The traditional dance during this day and other festivals is the “Horah.” This dance is commonly done holding hands in a circle or can be done individually. The horah is a simple dance as follows:

1. Balance weight on the LEFT foot, making a light hop as the RIGHT foot is kicked forward.

2. Shift weight to the RIGHT foot, making a light hop as the LEFT foot is kicked forward.

3. Put the left foot down, balancing evenly and briefly.

4. The RIGHT foot should then cross behind the LEFT foot.

5. Now lift the LEFT foot, stepping to the LEFT, moving balance off RIGHT to LEFT foot and repeat step 1.