Simchat Torah

Simchat Torah, Hebrew for “rejoicing in the Law,” celebrates the completion of the annual reading of the Torah.

Simchat Torah is a joyous festival, in which we affirm our view of the Torah as a tree of life which demonstrates a living example of never-ending, lifelong study.  In some synagogues Torah scrolls are taken from the ark and carried or danced around the synagogue seven times.  During the Torah service, the concluding section of Deuteronomy is read, and immediately following, the opening section of Genesis, or B’reishit is read.