Simchat Torah 2006
Simchah – the rejoicing.
Those who say Judaism is a religion without joy and that the rules they follow leave them downcast have not been in a synagogue or shul on Simchat Torah. This holiday is a relatively new one, having started in the middle ages. It developed out of the two day festival of Shemini Atzeret, when the only unique ritual left from that of the prayer for rain, or in the springtime dew. It was held on the second day, for as Numbers 29: 35- 30:1 states the eight day of sukkot is to be a solemn assembly. Simchat Torah is often celebrated with singing and drinking. It is not mentioned in the Torah. No one seems to know exactly when it started except that the date was set when the reading of the Torah was changed for a three year cycle to a one year cycle. It is tied through the haftorah reading to Solomon in the Midrash in which Solomon gives a feast of thanks for being granted wisdom from the most high. (http://ohr.edu/yhiy/article.php/1868)
It is a joyous holiday. It is a holiday in which work is not permitted. It is the only time that the Torah is read at night, when one reads the last section from Deuteronomy and the beginning of Genesis. The reading at the beginning of Genesis is read at the same time to remind one that the Torah is a circle and never ends. There is a tradition of calling all members of the community to say the blessing over the Torah, known as aliyah, and many synagogues repeat the reading until everyone has had their blessing. The Torah is paraded around the Synagogue seven times known as hakafot. They are accompanied by joyous dancing and often spill out into the street. The seven times coincides with the seven days of creation, the seven days of sukkot, the seven spirits of G-d. It is called a childrens holiday as even children are called up as a group for aliyah.
Upon finishing the Torah it is said "Chazaq, chazaq va'nit-cha-zeik" Be Strong, Be Strong, and be Strengthened.
What does scripture say about delighting in His teaching.
Exodus 20:6 And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments
1 Sam 15:22 …Behold to obey is better than sacrifice and to harken than the fat of rams.
Job 27:10 Will he delight in himself in the Almighty?
Ezekiel 36: 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Psalm 1:1-2 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the unG-dly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scronful. But his delight is in the law of the L-rd: and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Psalm 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the L-rd: and he delighteth in his way.
Psalm 40:8 I delight to do they will, O my G-d: yea, they law is within my heart.
Psalm 112: 1 Praise ye the L-rd, Blessed is the man that feareth the L-rd, that deloighteth greatly in his commandments.
Psalm 119:16 I will delight myself in they statutes: I will not forget they word.
Psalm 119:35 Make me to go in the path of they commandments: for therein do I delight.
Psalm 119: 47 And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.
Psalm 119: 68- 71 Thou art good, and doest good: teach me they statutes. The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart. Their heart is fat as grease: but I delight in thy law. It is good for me to have been afflicted: that I might learn thy statues.
Pslam 119: 77
Psalm 119: 92
Psalm 119: 143
Psalm 119: 174
Proverbs 28: 7 Whoso keepth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion of riotous men shameth his father.
Isaiah 58: 2 Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their G-d: they ask of me the ordinances of justice: they take delight in approaching to G-d.
Matt 11:30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
John 14:15 If ye love me keep my commandments.
John 14: 23 … If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
John 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love: even as I have kept my father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
Romans 7:22 For I delight in the law of G-d after the inward man:
What does this mean to Christians:
“Whenever most people think about the basis minimums of Christianity, they generally think of the Ten Commandments.” (Burkett p 10) In Business by the Book by Larry Burket while he quotes twice as frequently from the Brit Hadashah as the Tanack he still references the Torah for who to go to about business and the straight path created by such.
G-d’s laws are not a burden, 1 Jn 5:3 This is love for G-d; to obey His commands. And his commands are not burdensome… There is great joy in the commandments of G-d. Psalm 119 105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.
As Jews and Christians we must all take the time to rejoice in His teachings and embrace His Torah in our lives. Praise be to his name for giving us good instruction. Hagch S’Meach.
Resources:
Basri, Rabbi Ezra. Ethics of Business Finance and Charity According to Jewish Law, Haktav Institute, Jerusalem, 1987.
The Bible, King James Version
Burkett, Larry. Business by the Book, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, 1998.
Donin, Rabbi Hayim Halevy. To Be a Jew, A guide to Jewish Observance in Contemporary Life. Basic Books, New York, 1972.
Gabor, Don. Big Things Happen When You Do the Little Things Right, Prima Publishing, Rocklin CA, 1998.
Falk, Randall. And Harrelson, Walter. Jews and Christians in Pursuit of Social Justice, AbingdonPress, Nashville 1996.
Koch, Robert and Remy. Christianity: New Religion or Sect of Judaism?, Media Publications, Palm Beach, 1999.
Jewish Outreach Institute, How We Celebrate, http://www.joi.org/celebrate/simchat/index.shtml, accessed 05 Oct 05
Krause, Rabbi Jonathan, Beth El Temple Center, http://ma002.urj.net/dtvayechi96.html, accessed 05 Oct 05
My Jewish Learning.com: Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah in the Community, http://www.ujc.org/content_display.html?ArticleID=86153, accessed 05 Oct 05
Rich, Tracey R., Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday6.htm accessed 05 Oct 05
Segal, Eliezer, The Mysterious Origins of Simhat Torah, http://www.ucalgary.ca/~elsegal/Shokel/981008 accessed 05 Oct 05
Weinbach, Rabbi Mendel, The Simchat Torah Mystery, http://ohr.edu/yhiy/article/1868 accessed 05 Oct 05
