See Simhat Torah times for your area.
A special feature of the service is calling all children under 13 years to the Reading of the Law.
Being an American by birth, it has been important to me to search resources to find out how my forebearers there observed the holiday in the traditional manner.
The holiday's celebratory dancing is a custom which is not required to fulfill any of the core obligations.
This celebration encompasses all layers of society, young and old, rich and poor, learned and less learned.
Once we start to read the Torah all over again, we need to be reminded of its absolute holiness, rendering it nearly inaccessible and unapproachable.
With the joy that is the theme of this holiday, Bracha's children have found their way home.
As we bid farewell to one of history’s most unusual, unorthodox Sukkot, the very soul of Simhat Torah has been winnowed down to a shell of its former self.
Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky and Rabbi Gershon Edelstein instruct not to hold hands during traditional holiday dancing, not to kiss Torah scrolls, and to keep distance ‘as far as possible.’
Traditionally, on the Jewish holiday, distinguished male members of the community are appointed Chatan Torah and Chatan Beresheet. United Synagogues introduced an Eishet Chayil honor for women.
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