Blogerim

Simhat Torah

Jakob Steinhardt, Thora Tänzer (Torah Dancer), ca. 1934; Jewish Museum Berlin, purchased with funds provided by Stiftung DKLB, photo: Jens Ziehe.
You can find more information on our holdings related to Simhat Torah in our online collections (in German).

What is it and how is it celebrated?

Over the course of the year, the Torah is read from beginning to end in the synagogue, from the first through the fifth Book of Moses. On Simhat Torah, literally “Rejoicing with the Torah,” the last chapter of the last Book and the first chapter of the first Book, which starts with the story of creation, are read together. This is to emphasize that the Torah has no end and that it should be read and studied time and again. The Torah is eternal like G’d who gave it to us.

On the evening before the holiday, on Erew Simhat Tora, the ark is wide open. The decorated Torah scrolls are carried around the synagogue in festive processions for the worshippers to touch and kiss. Children take part in the procession with self-made flags and pennants. In many synagogues, people dance and candy is thrown for the children to collect.