A FINAL WORD:


We, as a people, have always considered Simchat Torah one of Judaism’s most joyous days. In modern times we have witnessed the holiday take on additional significance. During the 1960’s, Jews in the Soviet Union adopted this holiday as their own by taking the Torahs into the streets, publicly dancing hakafot to affirm and celebrate their commitment to the treasure of their heritage. Simchat Torah was more widely celebrated there than Yom Kippur or Passover, and thousands of Jews could be found near the Moscow and Leningrad synagogues. These celebrations became a symbol of the insistence of the Soviet Jews’ right to live as Jews and their refusal to abandon their birthright. Many Americans find themselves similarly longing to reconnect to our traditions. Simchat Torah, with joyfully open doors everywhere, is a good time to begin, and to continue, that connection.
Chag Sameach!