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October 15, 2006
Simchat Torah: after much relationship counseling, a wedding
[ UPDATE: Check out this story about one of the oldest existing Torah scrolls. Scribed in Spain around 1100 CE (the era of Miamonides), it was taken to Rhodes by the Sephardic Jews escaping the Inquisition in 1492. Lots of interesting detail about the differences in lettering. One of the commenters links to the Aleppo Codex, which dates from 10th c. Tiberias. ]
All Yamim Noraim posts here, including one post a day from Rosh Chodesh Ellul 5766 through Yom Kippur 5767. All chagim posts here, including one post a day from the first day of Sukkot through Simchat Torah 5767. (Each of these include a mp3 of Jewish music from a wide variety of sources and genres.)
Thank God no more holidays for two months. Whew! But you are supposed to carry a bit of the festive spirit to the next day so you don't get a sudden let-down. I think a good night's sleep ought to do it.
A sprightly song from the Iraqi repertoire, Ma Navu Alay
about all the Jews returning from exile to Jerusalem and being reunited with God as are a bride and groom.
Simchat Torah is a wedding ceremony.
The commitment to the Torah is likened to that of a marriage in which two parties are singularly committed to each other. It is an intimate relationship that challenges the individual and defines much of his/her identity. The marriage symbolism in the relationship between God and the people Israel is also found in seven processions around the synagogue, calling to mind the tradition of a bride circling the groom seven times. The cycle of readings, moving from end to beginning, mirrors the cycle of the hakkafot, the circles walked around the ark. The entire image becomes symbolic of unending Torah learning. Unlike Shavuot, the holiday that celebrates the receiving of the Torah, Simchat Torah commemorates the community’s commitment to learning and its love of the Torah. Whereas Shavuot focuses on the burden of responsibility in receiving the Torah, Simchat Torah emphasizes the ecstatic joy of studying Torah.Most Torahs are about the size of and weight of a two year old child, and I feel protective cradling one, but I also feel generations of wisdom and learning given and received vibrating in my arms. Usually the Torah I am holding or reading from has been unrolled and rolled, undressed and dressed, chanted from, and carried countless times. Much holy intention and careful craft has gone into creating it and my relationship with it is guarded by many rituals. When I carry a Torah, all that is in my arms.
This is cute: A video for Chabad of Dallas all-night Simchat Torah party:
From Shlomo Carlebach to Bob Dylan to Matisyahu, Lubavitch knows how to use pop culture to promote itself.
Jews in Green celebrate Simchat Torah in Iraq. It's funny to see these big burly soldiers holding tiny Torahs, but in a war zone everything has to be small and light. (See also the photos of Rabbi Goren carrying a small Torah.)
Judith | 10/15/06 at 11:27 PM | Categories: - Chagim
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