Israel Simchat Torah: October 10, 2009
Israel celebrates Simchat Torah October 10 and 11 as two day holiday.
On the Hebrew calendar, the autumnal holiday of Sukkot is immediately followed by the Shemini Atzeret. Shemini Atzeret is a two-day holiday and the festivities for the Simchat Torah are observed on the second day. The first day of the two day holiday is called “Shemini Atzeret” and the second day is called “Simchat Torah”. According to Halaka, both days are officially Shemini Atzeret, and the liturgy reflects this.
Israel Simchat Torah History
European Jewish communities during the 9th century designated a special reading from the Prophets to be read on this day. Some time in the 14th century, upon the completion of Deuteronomy, the reading of Genesis was added immediately. The removal of all the Torah scrolls from the ark, and the singing of a separate hymn for each scroll became a general practice in the southern European communities. The wealthier members of the northern European communities would give a dinner for friends and acquaintances after the reading of the Deuteronomy. It became a common practice by the end of the 15 century for the children to tear down and burn the sukkahs during Simchat Torah. Rabbis later permitted dancing in the synagogue on this festival.
The practice of taking out the scrolls and filing fervently around the bimah on the night of the 23nd of Tishri became customary in the 16th century. After the procession on the same night, a number of passages from the Torah were read. The male members of a congregation read the passage from Deut. 33:1-29 as many times as they deemed necessary. This practice is still followed today in Orthodox synagogues.
Israel Simchat Torah Traditions, Customs and Activities
It is during the evening and morning services that the main celebration of Simchat Torah takes place. This is the only time of the year for many Orthodox and Conservative congregations in which the Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark and read during the night. The final parashah of Deuteronomy and the first parashah of Genesis are read in the synagogue in the morning. When the ark is opened, the worshippers stand-up to dance and sing with all the Torah scrolls in a merry celebration. This act often lasts for several hours.
