Simchat Torah Wedding: A Joyous Celebration

Simchat Torah is a Jewish holiday that marks the completion of one Torah reading cycle and the beginning of the next. It is a joyous occasion, filled with singing, dancing, and celebration. But is it a good day to have a wedding?

In the Jewish calendar, there are several days on which weddings are traditionally not performed, including Shabbat, most Jewish holidays, and periods of mourning. While some rabbis may be willing to perform weddings on these days, others may not, so it is essential to consult with a rabbi before setting a wedding date.

Simchat Torah is considered a major holiday or Yom Tov, and as such, most forms of work are prohibited. Additionally, it is customary to light candles, attend synagogue, and recite the Kiddush prayer, similar to Shabbat. Therefore, it may not be an ideal day for a wedding, as many of the usual wedding activities may not be permissible or would require special accommodations.

However, it is worth noting that Simchat Torah is unique among Jewish holidays in that the Torah is read at night as well as during the day. This could provide an opportunity for a creative or non-traditional wedding ceremony incorporating the Torah reading. Ultimately, the decision to have a wedding on Simchat Torah should be made in consultation with a rabbi and with consideration of the couple's personal and religious preferences.

Jewish weddings are avoided on major holidays

Simchat Torah, which means "the Joys of the Torah" in Hebrew, is a jovial Jewish holiday filled with singing, dancing, and celebration. It marks the completion of one Torah reading cycle and the beginning of the next. It is celebrated with special prayers, festive meals, and the lighting of holiday candles.

The holiday begins at sundown on the 23rd of Tishrei in the diaspora and the following day in Israel. It is always celebrated immediately after Sukkot ends, and in some communities, it is combined with Shemini Atzeret, the "Eighth Day of Assembly," which is often regarded as the unofficial eighth day of Sukkot.

In addition to Simchat Torah, other major Jewish holidays when weddings are avoided include Shabbat, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Passover, and Shavuot. Hanukkah and Purim, however, are considered okay for weddings.

The restriction on wedding dates is not upheld by the Reform movement, and some Reform rabbis officiate at weddings on days that more traditional communities might avoid. Nonetheless, it is always best to consult with a rabbi before setting a wedding date to ensure that it does not conflict with any religious observances.

No work is done on Simchat Torah

Simchat Torah is a component of the Biblical Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret, which follows the festival of Sukkot. In the Diaspora, Shemini Atzeret is a two-day holiday, and the second day is known as Simchat Torah. The holiday is characterised by unbridled joy, which reaches its climax on Simchat Torah when the Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark and danced with. This celebration marks the conclusion and restart of the annual Torah-reading cycle.

The main celebrations occur in the synagogue during evening and morning services. The Torah scrolls are removed from the ark and carried around the sanctuary in a series of seven hakafot (circuits). The worshippers leave their seats to dance and sing with the Torah scrolls in a joyous celebration that lasts several hours.

The morning service includes a special holiday Amidah, the saying of Hallel, and a holiday Mussaf service. Three scrolls of the Torah are read: the last parashah of Deuteronomy, the first parashah of Genesis, and the maftir from the book of Numbers. It is customary for everyone to take part in the celebration by receiving an aliyah, and there is also a special aliyah for children.

The festivities include festive meals, with kiddush, and the lighting of candles by women and girls on the preceding nights. The candles are lit from an existing flame, such as a pilot light or a yahrtzeit candle, and are accompanied by blessings.

Dancing is a Simchat Torah tradition

The main celebrations occur in the synagogue during evening and morning services. In the evening, all the synagogue's Torah scrolls are removed from the ark and carried around the sanctuary in a series of seven hakafot (circuits). The dancing and singing with the Torah often continue for much longer than a single circuit and may overflow onto the streets. In Orthodox synagogues, men and boys predominate in the dancing, with women and older girls having their own dancing circles or looking on from behind a partition. In Conservative and Progressive congregations, men and women dance together.

The morning service includes a special holiday Amidah, the saying of Hallel, and a holiday Mussaf service. When the ark is opened to take out the Torah for the Torah reading, all the scrolls are removed, and the congregation starts the seven hakafot just as they did the previous evening. After the hakafot and dancing, three scrolls of the Torah are read: the last parashah of Deuteronomy, the first parashah of Genesis, and the Maftir, Numbers 29:35–30:1.

The Torah reading is followed by the day's Maftir and Haftorah (from the Book of Joshua). When the Haftorah has been completed, it is customary to sing a hymn beginning "Sisu vesimchu besimchat Torah" ("Rejoice and exult on Simchat Torah!") and several other hymns. The Torahs are then returned to the Ark, and the holiday Musaf service commences.

The day continues with the holiday meal and then the afternoon services.

The Torah is read at night and during the day

Simchat Torah is a Jewish holiday that marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings and the beginning of a new cycle. The holiday is characterised by dancing with Torah scrolls and reading from the Torah.

The main celebrations occur in the synagogue during evening and morning services. In many Orthodox and Conservative congregations, this is the only time of year when the Torah scrolls are taken out of the ark and read at night. On this night, all the synagogue's Torah scrolls are removed from the ark and carried around the sanctuary in a series of seven circuits or hakafot (Hebrew for "circuits"). The dancing and singing with the Torah scrolls often continue for several hours and may spill out onto the streets.

After the hakafot, many congregations recite a portion of the last weekly Torah portion, V'Zot HaBerakhah ("This is the Blessing...") in Deuteronomy. The part read is usually 33:1–34:12, but this may vary by individual synagogue custom, although Deuteronomy is never read to the end.

The morning service includes a special holiday Amidah, the saying of Hallel, and a holiday Mussaf service. When the ark is opened to take out the Torah for the Torah reading, all the scrolls are removed from the ark, and the congregation starts the seven hakafot just like in the evening.

Three scrolls of the Torah are then read. The last parashah of the Torah, V'Zot HaBerakhah, at the end of Deuteronomy (33:1–34:12), is read from the first scroll, followed immediately by the first chapter (and part of the second) of the Book of Genesis (1:1–2:3), which is read from the second scroll. It is a Jewish custom that a new beginning must immediately follow a completion; therefore, reading Genesis immediately after finishing Deuteronomy is logical.

The morning service is also unique in that each member of the congregation is called up for an aliyah. There is also a special aliyah for children.

The holiday is celebrated for two days in the diaspora and one day in Israel

Simchat Torah is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the completion of the year-long reading of the Torah and the beginning of a new cycle. It is a joyous occasion marked by singing, dancing, and festivities. The holiday is celebrated at the end of Sukkot, which is a week-long festival.

The timing of Simchat Torah differs between the diaspora and Israel. In the diaspora, Simchat Torah is celebrated for two days, beginning at sundown on the day after Sukkot ends. In Israel, Sukkot is only observed for seven days, so Shemini Atzeret (the eighth day of assembly) and Simchat Torah are celebrated together on the same day, making it a one-day celebration in Israel.

The difference in the number of days for Simchat Torah celebrations between the diaspora and Israel is due to the varying lengths of the Sukkot festival in each location. In the diaspora, Sukkot is observed for eight days, while in Israel, it is celebrated for seven days. This results in Simchat Torah being celebrated on different days and for different durations in these two contexts.

The celebration of Simchat Torah includes various customs and rituals. It is customary to light holiday candles, attend synagogue for special prayers, and share festive meals. The Torah reading on this day is unique, with the Book of Deuteronomy being completed and the Book of Genesis started anew. It is also common for all members of the synagogue, men and women, to be given the opportunity to receive an Aliyah and be called up to the Torah. Dancing with Torah scrolls and singing festive songs are also highlights of Simchat Torah festivities.

Frequently asked questions