Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • A Jewish holiday: Simchat Torah is a Jewish holy day marking the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings and the beginning of a new cycle. It is characterized by joyous celebration, singing, and dancing with the Torah scrolls.

Usage

• Simchat Torah is celebrated immediately after the festival of Sukkot.
• The central ritual of Simchat Torah involves removing all the Torah scrolls from the ark and carrying them in joyful processions () around the synagogue.
• On Simchat Torah, the final portion of Deuteronomy is read, followed immediately by the beginning of Genesis, symbolizing the never-ending cycle of Torah study.

Examples

• The synagogue was filled with music and dancing for Simchat Torah.
• Children often receive flags and sweets during the Simchat Torah celebrations.
• The reading of the Torah is completed and restarted on Simchat Torah.

Advanced Usage

• "The joy of Simchat Torah": This phrase emphasizes the holiday's central theme of unbridled happiness and love for the Torah.
  • The entire community expressed the joy of Simchat Torah through song and dance.

Variants and Related Words

• Simchas Torah: An alternate common transliteration from the Hebrew (שִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה).
• Rejoicing of the Torah: A direct English translation of the holiday's name.
• Shemini Atzeret: The biblical festival on which Simchat Torah is observed (in Israel, they coincide on the same day; in the Diaspora, Simchat Torah is the second day of Shemini Atzeret).

Synonyms

• Festival of Rejoicing in the Torah: A descriptive synonym.

Related Concepts

• Torah: The scroll containing the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, central to the holiday.
• Hakafot (plural): The processions around the synagogue with the Torah scrolls.
• Aliyah: The honor of being called up to recite a blessing over the Torah reading, which on Simchat Torah is often extended to all members of the congregation.

Noun

1. (Judaism) a Jewish holy day celebrated on the 22nd or 23rd of Tishri to celebrate the completion of the annual cycle of readings of the Torah