The United Synagogue

Simchat Torah

The holiday of Simchat Torah celebrates both the completion and beginning of the reading of the Torah.

What does Simchat Torah mean?
Simchat means rejoicing and thus we are rejoicing the ending and beginning of the Torah, the law that was given by God to Moses and the Jewish People at Mount Sinai on Shavuot.

What are the customs of Simchat Torah?
Hakafot
On the night of Simchat Torah, the celebration commences with the reading of a selection of verses, beginning "Ata Horayta" - "You have been Shown". This recounts how God revealed Himself to the Jewish People at Mount Sinai. In some communities, these verses are auctioned off to the highest bidder and the money is given to charity.

Once the Ark is opened and all the scrolls have been taken out, everybody in the synagogue is given an opportunity to dance with them. Each dance begins with a circuit of the bimah (the central platform in the synagogue from which the Torah is read), which symbolises the altar in the Temple.

This is done seven times and to the sound of various Hebrew melodies. The Hebrew term for this is "Hakafot".

Chatan Torah and Chatan Bereshit
The other main custom for this day involves the Chatan Torah and Chatan Bereshit, which takes place during Shacharit (Morning Service) on Simchat Torah.

"Chatanim" is the plural of "Chatan", which means bridegroom.

"Chatan Torah" is the title given to the individual who is called to the Torah with a beautiful chant - describing his greatness in glowing terms - and is given the honour of reciting the blessing over the last section of the Torah to be read in the current year.

The "Chatan Bereshit", "Bridegroom of the (Beginning of the) Torah", is called to the Torah with a similar introduction. He is given the honour of reciting the blessing over the beginning of the Torah, the section dealing with the creation of the universe by God.