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Simchat

Simchat is a Hebrew noun meaning joy or gladness. In Jewish usage the term appears in compound names of holidays or occasions that celebrate joy derived from sacred texts or rituals, most notably Simchat Torah.

Simchat Torah is the central festival associated with the term. It celebrates the completion of the annual

Customs center on hakafot, processions in which Torah scrolls are carried around the synagogue amid singing

Variations exist among Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Mizrahi communities in the order and style of rituals. While

Beyond Simchat Torah, Simchat as a term may appear in other Hebrew phrases or as a given

cycle
of
Torah
readings
and
the
beginning
of
a
new
cycle.
The
name
translates
as
“Joy
of
the
Torah.”
The
observance
follows
Shemini
Atzeret;
in
Israel,
Simchat
Torah
is
celebrated
on
the
same
day
as
Shemini
Atzeret,
while
in
the
Diaspora
Shemini
Atzeret
is
observed
for
two
days
and
Simchat
Torah
is
celebrated
on
the
second
day.
and
prayer.
Seven
hakafot
are
common,
though
some
communities
add
more.
In
the
morning
service,
the
final
portion
of
the
yearly
cycle,
V’Zot
HaBerachah,
is
read,
and
immediately
the
first
portion,
Bereshit,
is
begun
to
mark
the
restart
of
the
cycle.
Torah
scrolls
are
often
shared
with
the
congregation
for
viewing
and
kissing,
and
children
are
frequently
given
sweets
as
part
of
the
celebration.
the
core
meaning—joy
in
the
Torah—remains
constant,
practices
such
as
the
number
of
hakafot,
dancing
outside
the
synagogue,
or
the
timing
of
readings
can
differ
by
community.
name,
all
drawing
on
the
root
meaning
of
joy.