Simkhat-Torah ( Hebrew. שִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה , literally “the joy of the Torah”; Ashkenaz. Simhas-Toire ) is a celebration in Judaism , celebrated immediately after Sukkot ; in Israel - the day after Sukkot (coincides with Shemini Atzeret ), in the countries of the scattering - on the ninth day (after Shemini Atzeret ). On this day, the annual cycle of reading the Torah ends and immediately a new cycle begins.
| Simchat Torah Heb. שִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה | |
|---|---|
| Type of | Jewish |
| Otherwise | The joy of the Torah |
| Value | Completion of the annual cycle of studying the Torah and the beginning of a new cycle |
| Installed | In the early Middle Ages (Gaonian era) |
| Celebrated | the jews |
| Since | 22 tishrei in Israel or 23 tishrei outside of Israel |
| Celebration | synagogue |
| Traditions | Prayer in the synagogue, reading the Torah, akaphot . Prohibition of work. |
| Associated with | Sukkot , Shemini Atzeret |
Content
Holiday Origin
Simchat Torah as a separate holiday was already known at the time of the Talmud , in which this day is called Haftar [1] . However, a special celebration of this day was established in the era of the Babylonian Gaons (early Middle Ages), when the three-year Torah reading cycle was replaced by a one-year one. Since then, the last section of the Torah, Ve-Zot ha-Bracha (33 and 34 chapters of Deuteronomy ), has been read on this day; nevertheless, the tradition to begin a new cycle on the same day appeared later.
Holiday customs
Simchat Torah is one of the most fun holidays of the Jewish calendar , it was celebrated with special joy by Soviet Jews . In the 60s, they made it their special holiday, celebrated even more joyfully than Pesach or Yom Kippur . Although, from the point of view of Jewish law, it is a less important holiday than Pesach and Yom Kippur, Soviet Jews were so limited in performing their rituals (or were not well aware of them) that they chose the funniest of holidays. [2]
In the evening and in the morning Simchat Torah, in the synagogues arrange Akafot : a solemn procession with Torah scrolls around the dais in the center of the synagogue on which the Torah is read. Akafot is accompanied by dancing and universal rejoicing, by which Jews express faith and love for the Creator - one of the brightest in the life of every Jew. [3]
On the day of Simchat Torah, completing the one-year cycle of reading the Torah in the synagogues on Saturdays, read the final chapter, and, to emphasize the continuity and eternity of the Torah, immediately begin it from the beginning. On Simchat Torah, it is customary to call all men, even the smallest boys, to read the Torah.
Jewish scribes cite several reasons for the fact that the new Torah reading cycle begins on the same day that the old one ends:
1. In the midrash , describing how King Solomon (Shlomo) arranged a holiday in tribute to him by the Most High special wisdom, the words of Rabbi Elazar are quoted,
| ... we come to the conclusion about the feasibility of arranging a holiday on the day when we finish reading the Torah, for when the Most High said to King Solomon: "I give you wisdom and a sensitive heart, and there have never been anyone like you,” Solomon immediately He also made a feast for all his servants, in order to celebrate this event, and this means that it is befitting to arrange a feast and feast on the day when we finished reading the Torah. |
2. In order to “ not give Satan the opportunity to say that the Jews are happy to finish reading, but they are not eager to start reading again .” [four]
Initially, there was a custom according to which a person who finished reading Deuteronomy, immediately began to read the book of Genesis from memory, since there is a rule: “One scroll is not given to one reader”. Later, the practice of calling two people to the Torah arose - one finished reading the Book of Dvarim, after which the other began to read the Book of Bereshit - thus, two different scrolls were used.
Notes
- ↑ Talmud , Sukkah 16a; Rosh Hashanah 46; Midrash Psikta Zuta, sec. Pinchas 29.35
- ↑ Telushkin Yosef. The Jewish world: The most important knowledge about the Jewish people, its history and religion. - M.: Lechaim, 1998.- 574 p.
- ↑ http://www.moshiach.ru/calendar/7/succot_simchat_tora.html Moshiah.ru
- ↑ Shulchan Aruch and Tur., OH. 669
Sources
- Siddur "Gate of Prayer" (Shaarei Tfila) on weekdays, Saturdays and holidays; nousah ashkenaz; transliteration, translation, commentary and explanation of the order of prayers / ed. Pihas Polonsky ; Mahanaim . Jerusalem, 2008.
Links
- Simchat Torah - Article from the Electronic Jewish Encyclopedia
- SIMKHAT TORA , Mountain Jews Site
- Simchat Torah , Chabad.org