The 411 on Simchat Torah
What do you know about Simchat Torah?
Using the questions listed below, write information about Simchat Torah on post it notes. Each fact should be written on a different note. Stick the notes on the board under the appropriate question. If you are using computers, you can write your information on a Padlet board.
- What is it?
- When is it?
- How do we do it?
- Why do we do it?
One year? Three years?
Was the Torah always read publicly in the way that it is today?
Rambam's Mishneh Torah and Benjamin of Tudela's Itinerary both describe the two different approaches to reading the Torah that were prevalent in the 12th century.
Read the two texts below and fill out the chart.
הַמִּנְהָג הַפָּשׁוּט בְּכָל יִשְׂרָאל שֶׁמַּשְׁלִימִין אֶת הַתּוֹרָה בְּשָׁנָה אַחַת ... וְיֵשׁ מִי שֶׁמַּשְׁלִים אֶת הַתּוֹרָה בְּשָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים וְאֵינוֹ מִנְהָג פָּשׁוּט:
The custom prevailing through Israel is that the reading of the Pentateuch is completed in one year... Some complete the reading of the Pentateuch in three years, but this is not a prevalent custom.
Benjamin of Tudela, "Itinerary", 1170
"[In one city] are two synagogues, one of the congregations of Eretz Yisrael, called the Syrian, the other the Babylonian Jews. They follow different customs regarding the division of the Torah into Parshiot and Sedarim. The Babylonians read one Parsha every week, as is the custom throughout Spain, and finish the whole Torah every year, whereas the Syrians have the custom of dividing every Parsha into three Sedarim and concluding the reading of the whole every three years.
Torah Reading Schedules
| Place | Years to complete | |
| Schedule 1 | ||
| Schedule 2 |
When Should Simchat Torah be Celebrated? (Group or Pair)
If different communities are finishing the Torah cycle at different times, when should Simchat Torah be celebrated?
Pretend that you are on the committee deciding what to do about Simchat Torah. Does each community celebrate when they have finished the cycle? Does everyone celebrate once a year, even if they have not finished the cycle? Discuss the different options and make a recommendation to the community. Include your decision and the reason for it.
Share each group's recommendation with the class.
Benjamin of Tudela continued his journal entry by telling what was done in the situation described above. This is still what Jewish communities do today - regardless of the type of Torah cycle they follow.
Read his entry below.
"They uphold however the long-established custom to assemble both congregations and to perform the public service together"
Benjamin of Tudela, "Itinerary", 1170
Class Discussion - Choose from the questions below
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Why do you think it is important to celebrate together - even if both communities did not actually finish the Torah since they are following a three year cycle?
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Are there opportunities in your community to celebrate Simchat Torah, or any other holiday, together with another synagogue or Jewish group? Describe the experience.
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Have you ever attended a large gathering with members of all parts of the Jewish community? What type of event was it? How did it feel to be together as one, unified community?
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How does the verse from Proverbs (below) support the idea that celebrating or praying in a large group adds an extra level of meaning and joy to the experience?
בְּרָב־עָ֥ם הַדְרַת־מֶ֑לֶךְ וּבְאֶ֥פֶס לְ֝אֹ֗ם מְחִתַּ֥ת רָזֽוֹן׃
A numerous people is the glory of a king; Without a nation a ruler is ruined.
Simchat Torah Procession, Krakow 1888, From the collection of the National Library of Israel