What is Simchat Torah?
Rejoicing in The Word of God
EDITOR’S NOTE: Carol Calise, along with her husband Michael, serve as pastors of Beth Emanuel Fellowship (AG). Michael also serves as president of the Assemblies of God National Jewish Fellowship. Carol Calise provides special insight into Jewish traditions surrounding Simchat Torah and the applications they hold for followers of Jesus.From the evening of Oct. 24 to the evening of Oct. 25 this year (2024), Simchat Torah will be celebrated on the Jewish calendar.
Simchat Torah means “rejoicing in the Torah (or Law)” and is an extra-biblical holiday. Although it has been celebrated for more than 1,000 years, the form of celebration we know today came about in the 11th century. Even though it is not a holiday specifically mentioned in the Bible, it is connected to the eighth day (Shemini Azteret) celebrated after the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) mentioned in Leviticus 23:36. Shemini means eighth and Atzeret means assembly. The Scriptures declare that a holy convocation or assembly is to be called on the eighth day. In Israel, Simchat Torah is celebrated on Shemini Atzeret. Only outside of Israel is a ninth and separate day added for celebrating Simchat Torah.
Celebration of Simchat Torah is a joyous occasion. It marks the official end of reading the Torah and preparation to begin the cycle of reading for the new year. The Torah is read every Monday, Thursday and Sabbath (Shabbat) in the synagogue. It used to take three years to read through the Torah because the portions were much smaller. While some Jewish communities still observe this tradition, most read through the Torah in one year. This current cycle of reading was developed while the Jewish people were living as exiles in Babylon where larger portions were read each week so that the reading of the Torah could be completed in one year. The last and first portion of the Torah are read as part of the service.
In the synagogue there is much joy and celebration. This is another holiday like the Feast of Tabernacles that is to be celebrated with great intensity. It is a day when we are to put not just our intellect but our whole being into celebrating who the Lord is in our lives through honoring His Word. We dance with the Torah, sing songs and rejoice because we have seen the fruit of obeying the Word of Adonai in our lives throughout the year. Like the psalmist, we celebrate the Word of God. In our congregation, Psalm 119 is read as part of our celebration. The psalmist talks about treasuring, rejoicing and finding delight in the Word of God, which is the focus of celebrating Simchat Torah.
The Scriptures represent our relationship with God. Through the written word, the Tenach (Old Testament), and the Living Word, Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah, we have entered into the most awesome and intimate relationship with the Lord. This is cause for great rejoicing. The rejoicing and dancing is a means of expressing that love we have for the Lord and His Word.
Why do we rejoice in the Word of the Lord? We rejoice because the Lord and His Word have penetrated every part of our lives. Without the Lord we are nothing. He is the air we breathe. Each day we need to live in an awareness of how desperate we are for Him. Like King David we need to cry out, “my heart clings to you” (Psalm 63:8).
As Messianic believers (Jewish believers in Jesus), we rejoice in the Torah (instruction) the Lord has given to us. We recognize that the Word of God is indeed a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path (Psalm 119:105). We rejoice in both the written and living Word, who is Yeshua, our Messiah. John 1:1-2, 14, tells us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Word became a human being and lived with us, and we saw his Sh’khinah (glory), the Sh’khinah of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.”
Our celebration focuses on the importance of Yeshua and the Bible in our lives. As we read Psalm 119, we reflect on the need to keep the Word a central part of our daily lives. Individuals will share a favorite Scripture and we rejoice in the Word of God and renew our commitment to live our lives by its principles. Joshua 1:8 encourages us, “Yes, keep this book of the Torah on your lips, and meditate on it day and night, so that you will take care to act according to everything written in it. Then your undertakings will prosper, and you will succeed.”
The Bible is to be read, memorized, and lived out. Yeshua tells us, If you love me, you will keep my commandments (John 14:15). Celebrating the Word of God by obedience to its principles is a demonstration of our love for Him. The holiday of Simchat Torah reminds us of these truths.
*All Scripture references are from the Complete Jewish Bible (CJB), except where noted.