The Jewish Outreach Institute

CUSTOMS

Of course the Torah is central to Simchat Torah. The whole of Simchat Torah ceremony revolves around the proccession and reading of the Torah scrolls. But interestingly, many of the customs involving the reading of the Torah in the evening and morning run counter to the traditional rote of the Torah service. Some examples for your perusal:

In many traditional synagogues, women have restricted contact with the Torah scrolls. Though men are granted various honors, women must be content to watch or listen to the reading from behind the barrier to between the men's and women's sections (the mechitza). On Simchat Torah, there are various customs to grant women more access. As far back as the 15th century, it was a custom to keep the Ark open all night long so that women could view and touch the Torah. In the present day, many congregations bring the processions along side the mechitza, so that women may kiss the Torah. Some congregations also pass a Torah into the women's section so that everyone dancing can have the Torah as a focal point.

No matter which tradition you follow, children under who are not Bar or Bat Mitzvah are not allowed aliyot (being called to the Torah). But on Simchat Torah, one of the aliyot is granted to them. Sometimes accompanied by an adult, the children, draped in a tallit (prayer shawl), say the blessings before and after the reading.

Usually when we read the Torah, it is on a normal size table, just long enough to fit the Torah scroll and the books of the gabbaim, the people who give honors and "spot" the Torah reader. In an effort to show the cyclical nature of Simchat Torah, some congregations unroll the Torah fully on a series of tables or have members of the congregations hold it.

During the rest of the year, after the Torah is read, a person of some strength is called upon for a unique honor. S/he grasps the handles along the rollers of the Torah, nudges them over the edge of the Torah reading table, bends her/his knees, and lifts the Torah up. It is customary for the lifter (hagbah) to unroll the Torah so that three columns of text can be seen. Because the Torah is often read on a table that faces the congregation, the all-important text of the parchment is visible only when the haagbah turns around. On Simcha Torah, the hagbah crosses his or her arms such that the Torah is lifted with the text facing the congregation.