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Tag Archive for: Simchat Torah

Simchat Torah (Deuteronomy 33:1–34:12, Genesis 1:1–2:3)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Simchat Torah – שִׂמחַת תוֹרָה (Deuteronomy 33:1–34:12, Genesis 1:1–2:3)

There is a tradition that when we say a blessing over food, like the motzi, – between the blessing of the bread and the eating of it, we must not talk or wait any amount of time, but eat the food right away. Similarly, there is a tradition on Simchat Torah that when the Torah Reader says the very last word of the Torah, Yisrael, immediately afterwards they should say the very first word of the Torah, Bereisheet, all in one breath.

On this last day of our harvest festival of Sukkot, we read the last words of the story and then we return to the beginning. This is the ultimate act of T’shuvah, which means repentance or return. Immediately after the High Holy Days, we complete our annual cycle for the reading of the Torah. We turn to the last page and we return to the first: back on the path of Torah, back on the path toward the building of our better selves, back on the path toward the building of a better world.

Now is the time for turning. The summer has past, the leaves have begun to turn, from green to yellow and orange. Our Holy Days are now a memory, may we return to our path renewed.

Parsha Simchat Torah Summary:

On Simchat Torah, the day on which we literally celebrate the Torah, we read the very end of Deuteronomy and the very beginning of Genesis. In the final verses of Torah, we read Moses’ blessing of the Israelites, offered before the prophet dies. Moses then ascends Mount Nebo, from which he sees the Promised Land and takes his final breath. God buries Moses and we are told there will never be another prophet like him. From this passage, we immediately begin our new cycle of Torah reading with the story of creation from the beginning of Genesis. And we create a new year of studying Torah. While each year we return to the same verses, it is we who are different. With each passing year, we grow and change, celebrate and mourn. And it is as if we are reading these sacred words for the very first time.

Simchat Torah with Rabbi David

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Simchat Torah with Rabbi David for our preschool.

Simchat Torah, Hebrew for “rejoicing in the Torah”, celebrates the completion of the annual reading of the Torah. Simchat Torah is a joyous festival, in which we affirm our view of the Torah as a tree of life. At The Temple we welcome our first grade students with a service of Consecration, the Torah scrolls are taken from the ark and carried or danced around the synagogue in a special family oriented service that is shared by all.

The Temple Trager ECEC fosters a learning environment.  We encourage intellectual, social-emotional, spiritual and physical experiences for ages 6 weeks – Kindergarten. The Temple Trager Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) is a Liberal Jewish Preschool. It presents a broad-based curriculum within the context of moral and ethical values. Our students study the Jewish holidays as they arise throughout the year such as Simchat Torah with Rabbi David. At the Temple Trager ECEC, we learn about their Biblical and historical basis as well as the songs, foods, symbols and games associated with each.

Simchat Torah with Rabbi David for our preschool.

Simchat Torah, Hebrew for “rejoicing in the Torah”, celebrates the completion of the annual reading of the Torah. Simchat Torah is a joyous festival, in which we affirm our view of the Torah as a tree of life. At The Temple we welcome our first grade students with a service of Consecration, the Torah scrolls are taken from the ark and carried or danced around the synagogue in a special family oriented service that is shared by all.

The Temple Trager ECEC fosters a learning environment.  We encourage intellectual, social-emotional, spiritual and physical experiences for ages 6 weeks – Kindergarten. The Temple Trager Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) is a Liberal Jewish Preschool. It presents a broad-based curriculum within the context of moral and ethical values. Our students study the Jewish holidays as they arise throughout the year such as Simchat Torah with Rabbi David. At the Temple Trager ECEC, we learn about their Biblical and historical basis as well as the songs, foods, symbols and games associated with each.

Simchat Torah at ECEC

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Rabbi David teaches our preschool about Simchat Torah.

Simchat Torah, Hebrew for “rejoicing in the Torah”, celebrates the completion of the annual reading of the Torah. Simchat Torah is a joyous festival, in which we affirm our view of the Torah as a tree of life. At The Temple we welcome our first grade students with a service of Consecration, the Torah scrolls are taken from the ark and carried or danced around the synagogue in a special family oriented service that is shared by all.

The Temple Trager ECEC fosters a learning environment.  We encourage intellectual, social-emotional, spiritual and physical experiences for ages 6 weeks – Kindergarten. The Temple Trager Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) is a Liberal Jewish Preschool. It presents a broad-based curriculum within the context of moral and ethical values. Our students study the Jewish holidays as they arise throughout the year. At the Temple Trager ECEC, we learn about their Biblical and historical basis as well as the songs, foods, symbols and games associated with each.