Simchat Torah. Literally, the joy of Torah. A little-known holiday,
overshadowed by the scary Yom Kippur and abutted by the mild-mannered
Columbus Day. This year, it will be celebrated on Monday evening,
October 8th and Tuesday, October 9th.
A holy day. Of holy joy.
What are we celebrating on Simchat Torah? The joy of the completion of
Torah, from which we read one portion each Shabbat and finish each year
after Sukkot. Which we're about to start all over again from the
beginning.
In Jewish literature, a lot more attention is paid to a yahrtzeit than
to a birthday. Ever stop to wonder why that is? The general world sure
pays a lot more attention to birthdays. But Judaism teaches that a
yahrtzeit, in a funny way, is a celebration. A celebration of
completion. Completion of a life. You can't really celebrate that
until it's, well, complete. Because whenever we go, that was the
pre-ordained time for us to go, and that life is deemed complete -
whether or not we on earth see it that way.
That's what we said on Yom Kippur.
But a birthday? Well, we're still a work in progress. Sure,
celebrate. I'm all for a little cake and attention. But the
yahrtzeit... now that's holy joy.
Finishing the Torah? Now that's a lot of holy joy.
Here's the cool part. When someone finishes studying a significant
portion of the Torah, he celebrates, at an event called a "siyum." A
celebration of completion. But lots of people can come and celebrate,
too - in fact, it's a huge mitzvah to do so. Even if they didn't study
that portion of the Torah at all. Even if they didn't study any of it.
Even if they never studied Torah in their lives.
Because we celebrate each other's holy joy. Because we're connected.
Our souls are connected. We're all part of one organism. It's called
the Jewish People. Yup, capital "P."
Celebrating the completion of a book I don't necessarily know with
people I don't necessarily know. Because it's my Book and it's my
People.
That's Simchat Torah.
So sing and dance, my holy friends. Imbibe some holy joy. It's your
joy, and mine. Chag Sameach - may you enjoy a happy, holy, holiday.
