This Shabbat we will be observing Simchat Torah (“rejoicing in the Torah”), marking the culmination of our annual cycle of reading the Torah. Traditionally, Simchat Torah is a day of joyous celebration as the Torah scrolls are rolled back to the beginning, inviting the community to start anew with the story of creation in Genesis. The cyclical nature of Torah study can be seen as a metaphor for the ongoing process of renewal and growth in our lives. Like the other holidays we’ve observed during the past month, Simchat Torah is an opportunity to reflect on our personal and collective journeys, recognizing the need for continual learning and evolution.
The observance of Simchat Torah has an ethical dimension. It is not enough to simply celebrate the Torah, we must also embody its teachings. Simchat Torah serves as a call to engage with Torah in a way that fosters unity and inclusivity. Just as the Torah contains multiple voices and perspectives, so too should our congregation embrace a range of identities, backgrounds, and viewpoints. Simchat Torah can be seen as a day to recommit ourselves to social justice, kindness, and compassion, turning the joy of the holiday into meaningful action in the larger world as well.
Torah scrolls are individually handwritten by a trained scribe. Each is distinctive and has a unique history. During this week’s service we will discuss the origins of our three scrolls and examine their individual qualities.
The highlight of our Simchat Torah observance is the complete unrolling of one of our Torah scrolls as we move from Deuteronomy back to Genesis, what is sometimes called a “Tour de Torah.” The physical journey from one end of the Torah to the other is also a spiritual journey, reminding us of our sacred history as a people. It also illustrates the Jewish understanding that time is neither a line nor a circle but a spiral, cycling through seasons and years while also moving forward. The Torah teaches us something new each time we engage with it, not because the words have changed, but because we have.
During the Torah service we read, “In this scroll is the secret of our people’s life from Sinai until now. Its teaching is love and justice, goodness and hope.” May this culmination of our holiday season renew our commitment to those teachings.
Rabbi Drorah Setel