OVERVIEW OF SIMCHAT TORAH
Simchat Torah is a Hebrew term meaning "rejoicing with the Torah". It is a Jewish holiday that takes place at the conclusion of Sukkot, a Biblical pilgrimage festival. The holiday is observed in late October. The last portion of the Torah is read on this day although some start at the beginning with Genesis.
The last day of Sukkot, the eighth, is celebrated as separate holiday, with its own special prayers and customs. In the State of Israel, Sukkot is eight days long, including Shemini Atzeret. Outside Israel (the Diaspora), Sukkot is nine days long. Thus outside Israel the eighth day of Sukkot is Shemini Atzeret, and the ninth day is Simchat Torah. In Israel, the festivities and customs associated with Simchat Torah are celebrated on Shemini Atzeret.
HISTORY OF SIMCHAT TORAH
The name Simchat Torah was not used until a relatively late time. In the Talmud it is called simply the second day of Shemini Atzeret. The name "Simchat Torah" came into use after the introduction of the one-year cycle for the reading of the Law (date?), and was due to the fact that the reading was finished on this day.
In the ninth century some European Jewish communities assigned a special reading from the Prophets to be read on this day. In the fourteenth century the reading of Genesis was begun immediately upon the completion of Deuteronomy. In southern European countries it then became a general practice to take out all the Torah scrolls from the Ark, and to sing a separate hymn for each scroll. In northern European countries it became customary for those who had finished the reading of Deuteronomy to make donations to the synagogue, after which the wealthier members of the community gave a dinner to friends and acquaintances. By the end of the fifteenth century it was usual, though not a universal practise, for the children to tear down and burn the Sukkot booths on Simchat Torah; and shortly afterward many Rabbis permitted dancing in the synagogue at this festival.
SIMCHAT TORAH TRIVIA
Services are unconventionally joyous, and humorous deviations from the standard service are allowed, and even expected.
Source: The English Wikipedia
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