Simchat Torah means “Rejoicing the Torah”. This celebration of the God’s Word starts on Shemini Atzeret, the eighth day of Sukkot.

During the year, each week, one portion of the Torah is assigned to be read. The Torah consists of 54 weekly chapters, read throughout the year.

On Simchat Torah the Jewish people read the concluding Torah chapter and right away start to read the first chapter of Genesis. This is a symbol, that the Torah is the eternal and never ending circle of Creator’s Word.

Without any doubt you may say that the Torah is the representation of Judaism itself. It is an evident expression of our eternal bond with God and His wise guidance and care for His people. Moses bequeathed to the Jewish people to seek for the answers about all the vital aspects of the life in the Torah.

The completing of the reading Torah certainly is a time of a great joy and celebration. No wonder it is called “Rejoicing the Torah”. People take the Sefer Torah from the Ark and walk with it around the synagogue in a joyful procession. They are singing and dancing with the Torah. It is a great honor to carry the Sefer Torah, so they pass it around to as many people as possible. On this holiday is used to give to children toy Torah Scrolls and let them participate in the parade.

It is a special time for everyone to celebrate the Word of God, given us in the Torah.