Our week long celebration of Sukkot is almost over. However, we end our celebrations with Simchat Torah – my favorite holiday! From jewfaq.org:
Simchat Torah means “Rejoicing in the Torah.” This holiday marks the completion of the annual cycle of weekly Torah readings. Each week in synagogue we publicly read a few chapters from the Torah, starting with Genesis Ch. 1 and working our way around to Deuteronomy 34. On Simchat Torah, we read the last Torah portion, then proceed immediately to the first chapter of Genesis, reminding us that the Torah is a circle, and never ends.
This completion of the readings is a time of great celebration. There are processions around the synagogue carrying Torah scrolls and plenty of high-spirited singing and dancing in the synagogue with the Torahs. As many people as possible are given the honor of an aliyah (reciting a blessing over the Torah reading); in fact, even children are called for an aliyah blessing on Simchat Torah. In addition, as many people as possible are given the honor of carrying a Torah scroll in these processions. Children do not carry the scrolls (they are much too heavy!), but often follow the procession around the synagogue, sometimes carrying small toy Torahs (stuffed plush toys or paper scrolls).
The kids made flags to carry as well. Here is Simon’s flag:
Let’s get a closer look at the picture inside:
Adorable! This green flag belongs to Zachary. The letters spell Torah in Hebrew.
Gabbie made this one at home. Front:
And back:
And Gabbie made this one at school:
And the back:
We don’t take pictures on our holidays, so you’ll have to picture in your mind how much fun we’ll be having!