Episode notes
As the High Holy Days come to a close, Jews around the world spend one last day in an intense celebration with God before resuming their normal routines. Simchat Torah, which means “Rejoicing in the Torah,” is unlike any other observance that takes place in synagogue. As host Yael Eckstein describes in today’s podcast, the entire congregation — from the youngest children to the oldest adults — takes out the Torah scroll and joins in a never-ending circle of dancing and singing. The celebration marks the completion of reading through the Torah, from Genesis to Deuteronomy, before the reading cycle begins again. But the lesson of Simchat Torah, says Yael, lasts throughout the year. Simchat Torah is a reminder that the way to stay close to God and transform inspiration into action thr ...
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