Simchat Torah

Simchat Torah, שִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה, ‘Rejoicing of Torah’ is a Jewish holiday that celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle. Simchat Torah is a component of the Biblical Jewish holiday of Shemini Atzeret (‘Eighth Day of Assembly’), which follows immediately after the festival of Sukkot in the month of Tishrei.

The Simchat Torah festivities begin with the evening service. All the synagogue’s Torah scrolls are removed from the ark and are carried around the sanctuary in a series of seven hakafot (circuits). Although each hakafa need only encompass one circuit around the synagogue, the dancing and singing with the Torah often continues much longer, and may overflow from the synagogue onto the streets.