Simchat Torah

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Simchat Torah:
sweets are thrown to children, Utrecht 1657

Simchat Torah ( Hebrew שִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה Joy of the Torah , d. H. of the Law) is the last of the Jewish holidays that begin with the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). In orthodox and conservative communities of the diaspora it is celebrated as the second day of the Shemini Azeret festival on Tishri 23 , the first month of the Jewish calendar , in September or October - in Israel and in those reform communities where Shemini Azeret only lasts one day, at the same time with Schemini Azeret on the 22nd of Tishri. Simchat Torah is also very popular with less religious Jews, especially families with children. It begins with Shehechejanu's blessing .

Origin and development

Simchat Torah as an independent holiday arose in the Middle Ages, in the time of the Gaonim , when the annual cycle for the reading of the Torah became established. The customs according to which the holiday is celebrated have developed over a longer period of time and differ considerably depending on the location and orientation of the community.

Since the 14th century, the reading of the Torah , the five books of Moses, in the synagogue has ended with the last section of the fifth book on this feast day and immediately begins again with the first section of the first book. At about the same time, the custom of carrying the Torah scrolls through the synagogue in a procession, called a hakafot , arose . In the 16th century it became common to take all Torah scrolls out of the Torah cabinet on the evening of the festival and to carry them around the lectern . Today the Torah scrolls are carried around the lectern and through the synagogue in seven Hakafots. It has been danced and sung to since the early modern times , and the hakafot can take a long time. In some congregations, the Torah is read aloud in the evening.

perpetration

During the morning service, the Hakafot are repeated before the Torah reading. In many congregations on this day all adult men present, including women in reform congregations, are called to the Torah, with the corresponding Torah section being repeated as often as necessary, and at the end the children are called together. In most congregations it is customary to give special honor to two congregation members, in some Sephardic congregations three or only one, with the call to the last and first sections of the Torah. The former are referred to as Chatan or Kallat Torah (bridegroom or bride of the Torah (law)), the latter as Chatan or Kallat Bereschit (bridegroom or bride of the beginning ( Genesis )). They are expected to hold a reception after the service and donate money to community charity.

For the children Simchat Torah is a special festival day, on which they take part in the processions, according to Ashkenazi custom with special flags, and with fruits and sweets.

Simchat Torah dates

The date of this day varies according to the Gregorian calendar , since the Jewish calendar is always recalculated according to the moon.

Jewish year Gregorian date
5780 October 22, 2019
5781 October 11, 2020
5782 September 29, 2021
5783 October 18, 2022
5784 October 8, 2023

See also

Web links

Commons : Simchat Torah  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Aaron Rothkoff, Shalom Sabar: Simhat Torah. In: Encyclopaedia Judaica . Volume 18, Macmillan Reference USA, Detroit (Gale Virtual Reference Library), 2007, pp. 604-606 , accessed October 12, 2017 .
  2. ↑ a b Wilhelm Bacher , Schulim Ochser: Simhat Torah. In: Jewish Encyclopedia . 1906, accessed March 5, 2012 .
  3. ^ A b Cyrus Adler, Bernard Drachman: Bridegroom of the Law (Hatan Torah). In: Jewish Encyclopedia . 1906, accessed March 5, 2012 .
  4. ↑ Harry Rabinowicz, Rela Mintz Geffen: Hakkafot. In: Encyclopaedia Judaica . Volume 8, Macmillan Reference USA, Detroit (Gale Virtual Reference Library), 2007, p. 250 , accessed March 5, 2012 .
  5. ^ Rela Mintz Geffen: Bridegrooms of the Law. In: Encyclopaedia Judaica . Volume 4, Macmillan Reference USA, Detroit (Gale Virtual Reference Library), 2007, pp. 179-180 , accessed March 5, 2012 (English).