October 18th, 2019
19 Tishrei, 5780
In the coming week, we transition from our Sukkot celebrations to Simchat Torah, recognizing and celebrating the completion of our annual Torah reading cycle. In many ways, what we do on Simchat Torah is, in form, similar to the way we engage with Torah the rest of the year: we open the ark, we march the Torah around the shul, we give people aliyot, we read Torah. But on Simchat Torah, we do it all differently. We open the ark with many phrases and verses about Torah instead of just a few, we give the children an aliya (the one time of year!), and we have 7 rounds of parading the Torah around, not just one, full of song and dance and joy.
This teaches me that there’s something powerful about Torah in the way that the joy of completing our reading is meant to be contagious. We don’t limit our simcha - our joy - on Simchat Torah to just being about the Torah, but we build up the structures around our Torah celebration to bring US happiness. We dance around in seven hakafot because dancing and singing is fun, and it should make us happy. We give children an aliya because it’s beautiful and joyous and we want them to feel special in their connection to Torah. And we honor people, on Simchat Torah morning, with special aliyot as we read the end of the Torah and then as we begin again. These honors are in part, of course, about the Torah, but we also use these aliyot as a way to show appreciation and hopefully bring happiness to those we want to honor with these special aliyot.
This year, on Simchat Torah morning (Tuesday, October 22nd), we’ll be honoring Steve Lubin with Chattan Torah, the aliyah where we read the completion of the Torah. Every single morning that we have minyan we can count on Steve to help, whether it’s leading the service, blowing the shofar during Elul, or helping run our Torah service. Steve leads with a quiet, humble strength, and is always willing to support the operations of the shul when needed. Steve always expresses gratitude and appreciation and sets an example for all of us in being a true mensch.
The honor of Kallat Bereshit, when we begin reading the Torah from the beginning, will be given to Rose Ross. Rose ensures many things happen behind the scenes at Beth Sholom. Rose is a b’nai mitzvah tutor, teaching our youth how to lead our Shabbat services. She runs our women’s Hevra Kadisha, ensuring that we take care of our deceased with love and respect. She coordinates our chesed efforts, taking care of those in our community who are sick or in mourning.
Rose and Steve are both people who constantly say, “if there’s anything I can do to help, I’ll be here.” And they mean it. I hope you will join us on Simchat Torah evening and on Tuesday morning as well, to honor Rose and Steve, and to be a part of the joy of Torah that is meant to affect each and every one of us. May its joy be contagious, may it bring us happiness, and may we each renew our connection and love for Torah.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach,
Rabbi Sarit
Upcoming Holiday Times:
Hoshana Rabbah davening - Sunday, October 20th, 8AM
Shemini Atzeret davening - Monday, October 21st, 9AM
Erev Simchat Torah - Monday, October 21, Kindergarten and under program, 5:30PM, ma’ariv with hakafot, 7PM
Simchat Torah morning davening - Tuesday, October 22nd, 9AM
