Simhat Torah

Rabbi Jonathan Porath didn’t make countless trips to Russia. He counted them – 175 trips from 1965 through 2019. The following is an excerpt from his book centered primarily on Simhat Torah.

This analysis of a midrashic text is obviously not intended as a comment on or opinion about the recent United States Supreme Court decision.

Sukkot, a Jewish holiday associated with happiness and celebration, is about to end, and two asteroids are set to pass by Earth as it does on Hoshana Raba.

The historian Cecil Roth had a theory that Simhat Torah was modeled on a wedding, and that the festival's customs are derived from Jewish marriage.

Take advantage of the elusive autumn; go on nature tours and take part in festivals and activities for the whole family. 

In the human realm, Torah study waxes and wanes. We are currently living through a renaissance of Torah study and therefore have particular reason to celebrate Simhat Torah.

The Siddur reminds us not just of the things we want, but of the things we should want. Perhaps most importantly, it gives us a reason to connect with God during our busy lives. 

There are some basic foods that you simply cannot give up on Shabbat: good cake, cholent, a small kiddush (breakfast) and, of course, challah.

So how do we celebrate a covenant with God? How do we express the joy and the privilege of being Jewish? What is the right way to celebrate our love of God? The Jewish nation has the answer.

There will be a Hakhel event at the Western Wall plaza in Jerusalem on the second day of Sukkot, where three new Torah scrolls will be dedicated.