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The Sukkot season culminates in Simchat Torah, a day of rejoicing in the gift of the Torah because one whole year’s cycle of reading it through is completed on this day. The last section of the scroll will be read and the first verses will be chanted anew. Some communities take to the streets dancing with the Torah on this occasion. On New York’s Upper West Side, today, whole blocks are closed to traffic as every variety of Jewish community pours out of synagogue services to dance with and honor the experience of Torah. Perhaps you remember the media reports in the 1980's, when this happened in Moscow and Kiev for the first time since World War II. Despite the KGB and the fact that practicing Judaism was then prohibited throughout the former Soviet Union, the joy of time spent in secret study, the delight of each hidden Jew to discover each, and gratitude for the wonder of the legacy of being Jewish and receiving the Torah, overflowed and thousands danced in the streets. Many of us read those reports and wondered what they had found in the Torah, in their drive for Jewish identity, today, many of us finally understand. Where does the joy come from? Do the myriad possible deep meanings begin to come to life for you, more and more on each reading? The cycle of spiritual seasons and core practices of Judaism are planted in the Torah, how are you feeling about them? Would you consider taking the Torah into your arms? Can you see yourself dancing with this inheritance? It is a long-standing Jewish practice to take a turn for yourself holding and dancing with the Torah on Simchat Torah. You might recall having an apple set atop a flag to wave while circling the sanctuary, that is a traditional western Simchat Torah practice. The flags often have symbols of the twelve tribes upon them, signifying the occasion as a time of all aspects of our people being united through the practice of raising awareness through the study of Torah.
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based upon the model developed by my teacher, |
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Reb Zalman developed a Simchat Torah ritual which is catching on quite widely. He has the entire community form a tight circle, one person deep. Then he unrolls the Torah around the circle, each person gingerly supporting their section of the edge of the parchment, some use a tissue or gloves to do so. Do not touch the words, the ink will lift off and gradually the Torah will become pasul, unusable. The sight of the entire scroll unfurled is very powerful. Those who can read Torah, can slip under the scroll and gather in the center of the circle, facing each other. Then all present recite the blessing for Torah study: Barukh atah Adonai eloheynu melekh ha olam asher kidshah-nu b’mitzvotav la-ah-soke b’divrei Torah. To be immersed in words of Torah. (Or if this is during a service, offer instead the blessings for having an aliyah.) Now, the Torah readers turn and face those holding up the scroll, it is an amazing sight. The readers walk towards the arc of the circle. Perhaps you are one of the people there, holding the edge of the Torah. The reader will see if a verse seems to pop out that is just for you. If one doesn’t work, others from the column will be offered for you to select among. This is your verse to contemplate. "What does this come teach?" As the possibilities of the verses set in, the light of Torah is manifest, in most every face. |
