Simchat Torah- Where does it come from?

§ The Sages taught that Ezra the Scribe instituted ten ordinances: He instituted that communities read the Torah on Shabbat in the afternoon; and they also read the Torah on every Monday and Thursday; and the courts convene and judge every Monday and Thursday... The Gemara analyzes these ordinances, the first of which is that communities shall read the Torah on Shabbat afternoon. This Gemara explains that this ordinance was instituted due to those who sit idly on street corners, who do not attend the synagogue during the week. The Gemara discusses the second of Ezra’s ordinances: And that they should read the Torah on every Monday and Thursday. The Gemara asks: Did Ezra institute this practice? But it was instituted from the beginning, i.e., long before his time. As it is taught in a baraita with regard to the verse: “And Moses led Israel onward from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water” (Exodus 15:22). Those who interpret verses metaphorically said that water here is referring to nothing other than Torah, as it is stated metaphorically, concerning those who desire wisdom: “Ho, everyone who thirsts, come for water” (Isaiah 55:1). The baraita continues: The verse means that since the Jews traveled for three days without hearing any Torah they became weary, and therefore the prophets among them arose and instituted for them that they should read from the Torah each Shabbat, and pause on Sunday, and read again on Monday, and pause on Tuesday and Wednesday, and read again on Thursday, and pause on Shabbat eve, so they would not tarry three days without hearing the Torah. Evidently this practice predates Ezra. The Gemara answers: Initially they instituted that one man read three verses; or alternatively, that three men read three verses. Either way, the number three corresponds to the three types of Jews: Priests, Levites, and Israelites. Ezra later came and instituted that three men always read, and that ten verses altogether be read by them, corresponding to the ten idlers in a city, i.e., the ten men who are paid to spend their time dealing with synagogue and communal matters. The next ordinance of Ezra is: And the courts convene and judge every Monday and Thursday. The Gemara explains that the reason for this ordinance is that many people are found in a city on these days, as they come from the countryside for the reading of the holy book, the Torah, which is performed on Mondays and Thursdays, as stated above.

Halacha 1

The custom prevailing through Yisrael is that we complete [reading] the Torah within one year. We begin on the Shabbat after Sukkot by reading the portion “In the Beginning” (Gen. 1:1). On the second Shabbat, “These are the generations of Noah” (Gen. 6:9); on the third, “And God said to Avraham" (Gen. 12:1); and we continue on reading in this order until we complete the Torah on Sukkot. There are some who complete the Torah every three years, but this is not the prevalent custom.

Halacha 2

Ezra instituted for Yisrael that the portion containing the Curses in the book of Vayikra (26:3-end of book) should be read before Shavuot; and those in Devarim (26:1-29:8) before Rosh HaShana. The prevalent custom is to read the portion Bemidbar Sinai (Num. 1:1-4:20) before Shavuot; Va’etchanan (Deut. 3:23-7:11) after the Tisha B’Av; Atem Nitzavim (Deut. 29:9-30:20) before Rosh HaShana; [and] Tzav et Aharon (Lev. 6:1-8:36) before Pesach in an ordinary year (of twelve months). Hence, on some Shabbats, two portions are read during the morning service, for example, Isha Ki Tazria (Lev. 12:1-13:59) and Vezot Tiheyeh Torat HaMetzora (ibid. 14:1-15:33); Bechukotai (ibid. 26:3-end of book) and Behar Sinai (ibid. 25:1-26:2) and so on; the purpose being to ensure that the reading of the Torah shall be completed in one year and that the portions above mentioned shall be read at their appointed periods.

However, according to the one who said that the portion of “Command the children of Israel, and say to them, My offering” is read as Shekalim, does that portion ever occur at that time of the year? That portion usually occurs much later in the year, in the summer. The Gemara answers: Yes, it sometimes occurs that this portion is read during the beginning of Adar, for the people of the West, i.e., Eretz Yisrael, who complete the cycle of reading the Torah not in one year but in three years.

“And [Shlomo] went to Jerusalem, stood before the Ark of the Covenant of God and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings... and he made a banquet for all his servants” (Kings I 3:15). Rabbi Elazar said: From here we learn that one makes a feast for the completion of the Torah.

On the ninth day of Sukkot (which is safek shemini), we read Vezot HaBeracha, in order to align the Simchat Torah – which we have merited to complete – with the Simchat HaChag. For the verse uses the term “Simcha” twice in discussing Shemini Atzeret, since the happiness of the festival is abundant. Further, [we read this portion] so as to align the “Blessing of the King” with the Blessing of Moshe. As our wise men say, the final day of Yom Tov is the King’s Blessing, which is set apart from the rest of the festival for its’ own blessing.

And we call it Simchat Torah, because we complete the Torah on it, and it is fitting to rejoice for its’ completion. And we are accustomed to immediately begin Bereishit, so that there shouldn’t be an opening for the Satan to prosecute by saying “they have finished and won’t start again!” And we read numerous liturgical poems, such as “For the sake of our fathers”. And there are some places where they take out all the Torah scrolls and recite different poems over each one – and each place should do according to its’ custom. And in Ashkenaz, the custom is that the one who reads and concludes [the Torah reading] make pledges and donations, and call to all their friends and make a feast, celebration and Yom Tov for the completion and renewal of the Torah…

I’ve seen written that each year, the Kohen Gadol – or the prophet, or Judge, or Gadol HaDor – would [publicly] read a portion of the Torah on Sukkot, and would complete Bereishit through Bamidbar within six years; and in the seventh year, the king would complete the Torah… And it is for this reason that the custom remains in our days that the final [second] day of Shemini Atzeret is called Simchat Torah, on which we complete the Torah, and where a great person within the community goes up to complete it… to be similar to the events of the king during that time.

Rama: This last day is referred to as Simchat Torah, because we rejoice and make a celebratory feast on that day to celebrate the completion of the Torah… We also have the custom in these lands… to remove all of the Torah scrolls in the ark and recite songs and praises… We also have the custom to encircle the bimah with the scrolls… all [of these customs are] out of joy. We also have the custom to call up many people to the Torah… we also call up all of the children.