Celebrating the Torah

The feasts don't end when the tabernacles come down. In fact, in many places around the world, the day after the Feast of Tabernacles, Shemini Atzeret is celebrated, which literally means "celebration of the eighth day." It's as if God, our host, invites us to stay over another night. The Jews believe this holiday is reserved for them as God's special guests, but I believe Acts 10 extended the table.

The next day, the 23rd day of Tishri (don't you feel like we've had something every day this month?) is another big day, Simchat Torah. In 2015, it fell on October 6 (Monday evening until Tuesday evening).

Simchat Torah is the resetting of the Torah. One of the most interesting things I've discovered so far on this journey is that for thousands of years, every synagogue around the world has read the same portion of Torah each Sabbath. No matter where you are or which week of the year it is, you can know what the reading will be. We could probably pinpoint which weekend Jesus stood up and read in his hometown synagogue based on the passage he read. It must lend a rhythm to the year to know that in a certain season, you will be reading certain scriptures. From now on, I'll try to include those readings at the bottom of each blog.

For Simchat Torah, the congregation reads the end of Deuteronomy, then opens the first scroll to read the beginning of Genesis. Of course, it's not that simple. According to tradition, every male in the synagogue has a chance to read. They split up Deuteronomy 33:1-26 and read it over and over, often in groups, until everyone has had a turn. This chapter is Moses' blessing to the 12 tribes of Israel. More on my personal reflections in my next post.

The end of Deuteronomy 33 and all of chapter 34 are read by a distinguished and revered member of the congregation. These few verses contain Moses' blessing for all of Israel, his death, and Joshua's taking on the leadership of the nation. The whole congregation rises to recite the last verse of the Torah together. Many believe these last words, "For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel," were breathed by God and written in Moses' own tears.

With the reading of the last verse of Deuteronomy, the reading is not finished. The congregation begs for more. A second scroll is opened, the one containing the book of Genesis. Another respected man reads the account of creation. Everyone joins him in saying, "And there was evening and there was morning, the first day."

Before the scrolls are closed, a third reading takes place, this time from the first part of Joshua. This is a reminder that Moses passed the mantel to Joshua, Joshua to the judges, the judges to the kings and prophets and elders, and so on in an unbroken line until today.

While the subject of the day is serious, there is a celebratory air about Simchat Torah. There is dancing and singing, a parade. It is a time to celebrate God's word.

Photo credit: Avital Pinnick via Visual hunt / CC BY-NC-ND