Simchat Torah & Shmini Atzeret

Hope you all are enjoying Sukkot!

As I am writing this, my prayer and hope is that we hear good news for the hostages, and their safe return to their families.

As we come closer to Simchat Torah, I want to wish Mazal tov to our Chatan Torah Bryan Woolf and our Chatan Breishit Ron Schwartz!

Chatan Torah and Chatan Bereishit are two honourees who are called up for an Aligarh during the Simchat Torah morning services. Receiving these call ups is considered a great honour.

The Chatan Torah is the final Aliyah of the Torah. The person who gets it, is known as the Chatan Torah, “Groom of the Torah,” and is called up in a lengthy Hebrew poem full of flowery praises for the Torah and its “groom.”

The person who gets the following Aliyah begins the Torah. This great honour is known as the Chatan Bereishit, “Groom of Genesis.” He is likewise called up in a lengthy Hebrew poem full of flowery praises.

This week we also celebrate Shmini Atzeret which is a joyous time, and also a day where we recite Yizkor. Quite significantly it is also the yahrzeit of all those that were killed on Oct 7 2023 we remember them and honour their memory.

The joy of Sukkot culminates with the joyous holiday of Simchat Torah.

Simchat Torah begins at nightfall on Oct. 14 and ends the following night.

The highlight of this holiday is the hakafot, held on both the eve and the morning of Simchat Torah, in which we march and dance with the Torah scrolls.

The joy and celebration of Simchat Torah is needed now more than ever. Our enemies have tried to dampen our joy on Simchat Torah and stop us from celebrating Jewish life.

We must be defined by our proud identity and joy in our Judaism and not be defined by their hatred.

Let’s celebrate and dance this Simchat Torah in true Am Yisreal Chai fashion!

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach!