Simchat Torah
| Simhat Torah | |
|---|---|
Torah scroll
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| Official name | שמחת תורה |
| Also called | Translation: "Rejoicing with/of the Torah" |
| Observed by | Jews |
| Type | Jewish |
| Significance |
The culmination of Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret. Final Parsha from Deuteronomy is read in synagogue. Everyone called to the Torah reading. Conclusion of the annual Torah reading cycle. Rejoicing with the Torah. |
| Celebrations | Dancing in synagogue as all the Torah scrolls are carried around in seven circuits (hakafot); melakha is prohibited |
| Date | 22nd (outside of Israel 23rd) day of Tishrei |
| 2016 date | 23 October at sundown (24 October at sundown outside of Israel) |
| 2017 date | 11 October at sundown (12 October at sundown outside of Israel) |
| Related to | Culmination of Sukkot (Tabernacles) |
The culmination of Sukkot and Shemini Atzeret. Final Parsha from Deuteronomy is read in synagogue. Everyone called to the Torah reading. Conclusion of the annual Torah reading cycle.
Simchat Torah or Simhat Torah (Ashkenazi: Simchas Torah, Hebrew: שִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה, lit., "Rejoicing of/[with the] Torah") is a Jewish holiday that celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle. Simchat Torah is a component of the Biblical Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret ("Eighth Day of Assembly"), which follows immediately after the festival of Sukkot in the month of Tishrei (occurring in mid-September to early October on the Gregorian calendar).
The main celebrations of Simchat Torah takes place in the synagogue during evening and morning services. In Orthodox as well as many Conservative congregations, this is the only time of year on which the Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark and read at night. In the morning, the last parashah of Deuteronomy and the first parashah of Genesis are read in the synagogue. On each occasion, when the ark is opened, the worshippers leave their seats to dance and sing with the Torah scrolls in a joyous celebration that can last for several hours.
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