Simchat Torah

Simchat Torah may feel different this year in the wake of October 7, 2023, but the words of King Solomon in Kohelet – which we read on Sukkot – reminds us: “There is a time for everything under the Heavens… a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” Simchat Torah 2024 will be that time. Come sing and dance with the Torah and your Beth El family on Thursday, October 24, at 7:30 pm.

This year, we are participating in the Simchat Torah Project. The project’s goal is to unite the Jewish world both in its mourning and in its dancing. Synagogues around the world will participate in this project, each receiving a Torah cover with the name of one of the victims or fallen soldiers to adorn the scroll. Jews and their communities worldwide will be connected, knowing that across the globe, Jews are dancing with their newly robed Torah scrolls that collectively link us all in reflection and remembrance of October 7, while proclaiming together that “Am Yisrael Chai.”

As we hold our Torahs high, we will not forget what happened on Simchat Torah last year, but we will honor the victims by pushing ourselves to dispel the darkness with light. Our enemies will not prevail over us, and we will never allow them to achieve their goal of stealing from us our day of joy.

To make a donation in support of Beth El’s participation in this project, please click here.  For more information about this worldwide collaboration check out thesimchattorahproject.org.