A beautiful tradition on Simchat Torah is to read the last verse of Deuteronomy and the first verse of Genesis. There is celebration and joy in the Word of G-d. We are celebrating a beautiful in between moment. Honoring the end of a chapter and a beginning of a new as a community.
Maybe your Sukkot was not as joyful as you had hoped. Maybe your Yom Kippur fast was not as meaningful as you had anticipated. Maybe your Rosh Hashanah was not as sweet as it has been in the past. All of that is okay, the Word of G-d will always be relevant and this holiday of Simchat Torah is a tangible reminder that no matter what season we are in, there is joy in focusing on the Word of G-d. His Word isn’t changing even if other areas of our life feel shaky.
Simchat means joy; joy isn’t circumstantial. The Torah scrolls that are held in synagogues all over the world are in the process of being rolled back to the beginning. There is a beautiful sense of unity in Jewish life, there is a joy that is hard to explain.
If you were unable to go to a Simchat Torah service, you can take some time to read the end and the beginning of the Torah and ask G-d to be with you in this season of life.
September 28, 2021
Copyright © 2023 YMJA. All Rights Reserved
Website Design and Development by BK Design Solutions