LAWS AND CUSTOMS FOR SIMHATH TORAH 1. On Hoshanah Rabah (the night before Simhat Torah) it is a custom to stay up all night learning. The traditional learning seder [order] is Sefer D'varim, The entire book of Tehillim [Psalms], and the Idra Zuta of the Zohar. Most people who do learn all night pray in the sunrise, or Nets, minyan. 2. Shaharit of Hoshanah Rabah is (generally) the last time people will say the brakhah [blessing] and wave the lulav. However, it is a common custom to save the lulav until Pesah [Passover], to use as kindling for the burning of Hamets [leaven]. This is to both connect Pesah and Sukkot and to insure that an object used for a mitsvot is not simply thrown away but attached to another mitsvah. 3. After Shaharit it is a custom, dating bake to the time of the N'vi'im [Prophets], to take five branches of Aravot [willow- one of the four minim (species) which we used for the lulav] and beat them on earth. The leaves falling off the branches represent our sins falling away and the evil decrees against us being destroyed. 4. During the Musaf [additional] service of Shemini Atseret, we add the prayer asking for rain (in Erets Yisrael). It is especially important this year as the aquifers are dangerously low and Israel is in desperate need of water. 5. Simhat Torah is the same day as Shemini Atseret in Israel and the following day outside Erets Yisrael. On Simhat Torah, there are several special aliyot [the coming up to read from the Torah]. In particular there is the Hatan Torah [literally bridegroom of Torah], who finishes the Book of D'varim, and the Hatan Bereshit [the bridegroom of Bereshit, Creation] who begins the Torah. 6. In many congregations, it is customary for the one who offers the berakhah [blessing] to actually read from the Torah itself (Which was the original custom in the days of the Talmud). The Syrian custom is for the Hatan Torah to read the entire Parshat Zot HaBraha. 7. Often there is a special "children's aliyah," in which all the children of the congregation are called up to the Torah and a Tallit is held over their heads while they say the berakhah. One person over the age of Bar Mitsvah says the berakhah to fulfill the Halakhic [legal] requirement. 8. Simhat Torah begins at night with Hakafot [circuits] around the Torah, in which everyone, including children, marches around the Torah, singing pizmonim [liturgical songs]. People take turns carrying the congregation's Torah Scroll(s), dancing with them. These Hakafot are repeated during the morning Shaharit service the next day. 9. Some communities say the phrase, "B'simana Tovah Bereshit Bara Elokim Et HaShamayim [With a good sign, in the beginning God created the Heavens]" before beginning the Torah anew.

Articles Home Poetry From the Mouths of Our Sages Torah and Commonetary Stories of Hope