I recorded a long video about Simchat Torah, and while editing, I only just discovered that a significant part of it has a fatal error in the video file. I’m not going to have time to refilm and edit, but I wanted to give you the information anyway.
I know, the video was better because it includes some off-the-cuff stuff, but we’ll work with what we’ve got! I try to practice what I preach here 🙂
Script:
Simchat Torah is the holiday for imperfect years. You don’t have to nail it to belong.
Think you need a Torah scroll and a packed sanctuary? Not today.
I’ll show you simple, no-stress rituals using stuff you already own.
Because Simchat Torah isn’t just about finishing the Torah – it’s about choosing to begin again.
This is your permission slip to start messy, dance anyway, and remember – every imperfect step is still holy.
So what is Simchat Torah? It’s the joyful finale of our High Holiday season — the day we finish reading the Torah, and then roll it right back to the beginning.
At night, we dance with the Torah. By day, we read the very end of Deuteronomy and immediately begin Genesis again.
Because Jewish time isn’t linear — it’s cyclical, a spiral. Every return is a new beginning, inviting us back to what we missed or to deepen our practice.
Before Simchat Torah comes Shemini Atzeret — literally, the “Eighth Day of Gathering.”
It’s like the bonus day at the end of Sukkot, when God says, ‘Don’t go yet. Stay a little longer.’
In Israel, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are the same day. In the Diaspora, Shemini Atzeret comes first — quieter, reflective.
Think of it as the cool-down after Sukkot. The final deep breath before we begin again.
You’ve spent a week in the sukkah, hosting guests, eating outdoors — and now God says, ‘Hey, don’t rush off yet. Let’s have one more day together.’
That’s Shemini Atzeret. No more lulav or sukkah, just gratitude, prayer for rain, and that sense of lingering sweetness before Simchat Torah’s celebration kicks in.
Earlier, during the days of Sukkot, there was historically a celebration called Simchat Beit HaSho’eivah — the Joy of the Water-Drawing.
In Temple times, people would draw water from the spring for the altar, singing, dancing, and playing instruments all night long.
The sages said, ‘Whoever has not seen the joy of the water-drawing has never seen joy in their life.’
And lately, that joy is making a comeback.
In the last few years, you might see Simchat Beit HaSho’eivah events popping up again — community gatherings with music, food, and dancing, often hosted by synagogues or Chabad centers.
They’re modern echoes of that ancient celebration — reminders that joy itself is sacred, and that we can still dance our gratitude into being.”
Like Simchat Beit HaShoeivah, Simchat Torah is joyful on purpose.
We practice joy like reps at the gym — not because it’s easy, but because it’s holy work.
We dance, sing, and spin not because life is perfect, but because joy is a discipline. Like prayer in motion.
In sanctuaries, you’ll see circles of dancing, people singing at the top of their lungs, children waving flags, Torahs held close like beloveds.
It’s joyful on purpose — because sometimes you have to move your body before your heart catches up.
At home, you can mirror that rhythm. Every clap, every step, every laugh is a way of saying: I choose to begin again.
Personally, that’s hard for me. I’m not a “let loose” kind of person. I’m an awkward autistic person. Dancing in public gives me metaphorical hives. I encourage you to be open-minded to these practices if they are outside your comfort zone, and remember that you can do them in private if that’s more comfortable for you. And maybe give things a try even if they do feel uncomfortable.
You’re not faking it — you’re practicing joy, and that’s sacred.
So how do you bring that joy home?
Here’s your simple Simchat Torah flow — everything you need is probably already in your home.
Before the holiday, make or print paper flags — a classic Simchat Torah tradition, especially for kids (or kids at heart). You can decorate them with stars, Torah scrolls, or your Hebrew name. Wave them while dancing, or place them in a vase like flowers afterward.
And don’t forget something sweet — small candies, chocolate chips, even honey on challah. On Simchat Torah, sweetness reminds us that Torah is meant to be a delight, not a duty.
🕯️ Candlelighting
Use your regular Shabbat or Yom Tov candles. Light them, breathe, and take a moment to set your intention: “May this be a year of light and learning.”
🍷 Kiddush and Motzi
Have a festive meal. Use wine or grape juice and challah or bread. Say Kiddush, make Hamotzi, and enjoy the sweetness of the meal before your dance.
💃 Dance – Hakafot Around the Table
Most people do hakafot and dancing at night (the first night of Simchat Torah), and then again the next morning during services.
After eating, stand and circle your dining table or living room three to seven times. Clap, sing familiar tunes, or hum if you prefer. Hold a siddur, chumash, or even a stuffed toy Torah. (And yes, be mindful of downstairs neighbors.) Let joy be prayer in motion.
📖 Read – From End to Beginning
Traditionally done the next day, we read V’Zot HaBracha and immediately roll into Bereishit. Use your Chumash or printed Tanakh to read the last verses of Deuteronomy, then roll right into Genesis. **It’s not an official Torah reading (which requires a scroll and minyan), but a way to mark the transition and participate in the rhythm of renewal. If it’s easier to do that the night before, you can do that. Say together the traditional bracha upon ending a Torah book: “Chazak, chazak, v’nitchazek — be strong, be strong, and may we be strengthened.”
🫶 Bless
Give a short blessing — to your kids, to yourself, or to your community. Lay a hand on your child’s head, or on your own heart. Say something like, “May we grow in Torah and kindness this year.” or May this be a year of joy and strength.’
💌 Gratitude + Tzedakah
Before Yom Tov begins, set aside $1 or a few coins for donation to a Torah-learning organization. After the holiday, text a thank-you to a teacher, friend, or mentor who helped you learn this year.
✨ Havdalah
When the holiday ends, use your regular Havdalah set — candle, spices, wine — and mark the shift with gratitude: you’ve completed another full cycle of Torah, and chosen to begin again.
Havdalah on Simchat Torah isn’t just an ending — it’s an invitation to keep going.
When the candles are out and the songs fade, carry one small piece forward:
📖 Pick a parsha plan. Choose a weekly Torah portion study that fits your pace — even a short d’var Torah each week keeps the rhythm alive.
💌 Subscribe to a d’var Torah email or podcast. Let Torah come to you, right where you already are.
🌱 Choose one “begin again” habit. Maybe lighting candles more often, reading a verse a day, or giving weekly tzedakah. Whatever reminds you that starting small is still starting holy.
That’s how you keep Simchat Torah going — by letting joy ripple into the days that follow.
Simchat Torah is for imperfect years – and imperfect people who keep beginning again.
Chag sameach.
