Family Shabbat Services and Simchat Torah

Simchat Torah is a celebratory Jewish holiday that marks the completion of the annual Torah reading cycle. At Temple Beth El we take the scrolls outside to completely unroll the Torah. It is an amazing opportunity for everyone to see, feel and touch the scrolls. Simchat Torah literally means "Rejoicing in the Law" in Hebrew. Throughout the year, a set portion of the Torah is read each week. On Simchat Torah that cycle is finished when the last verses of Deuteronomy are read. The first few verses of Genesis are read immediately afterward, thereby starting the cycle again. For this reason, Simchat Torah is a joyous holiday celebrating having completed the study of God's word and looking forward to hearing those words again during the coming year.