Simchat Torah

" דַּבֵּר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, לֵאמֹר: בַּחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר יוֹם, לַחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי הַזֶּה, חַג הַסֻּכּוֹת שִׁבְעַת יָמִים, לַיהוָה. בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן, מִקְרָא-קֹדֶשׁ; כָּל-מְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדָה, לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ. שִׁבְעַת יָמִים, תַּקְרִיבוּ אִשֶּׁה לַיהוָה; בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי מִקְרָא-קֹדֶשׁ יִהְיֶה לָכֶם וְהִקְרַבְתֶּם אִשֶּׁה לַיהוָה, עֲצֶרֶת הִוא--כָּל-מְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדָה, לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ."

"Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. On the first day shall be a holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work. Seven days ye shall bring an offering made by fire unto the LORD; on the eighth day shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall bring an offering made by fire unto the LORD; it is a day of solemn assembly; ye shall do no manner of servile work."
Leviticus 23:34-36

Tishri 22, the day after the seventh day of Sukkoth, is the holiday of Simchat Torah In Israel.
Simchat Torah,"Rejoicing in the Torah", celebrates the completion of the annual reading of the Torah.
During the evening of Simhat Torah, the last chapter of Deuteronomy is read in the synagogue followed by the beginning of the Book of Genesis.
This is a very happy occasion. Jews all over the world dance joyously with the Torah.
All the Torah scrolls are taken from the Ark and carried in a parade around the synagogue seven times. This custom is called Hakafot (encirclement in English).

The Hakafot are begun with the recital of "attah hareita", a collection of biblical verses in praise of God and the Torah. Each verse is read by the reader and then repeated by the worshipers in the congregation.

After the seven Hakafot, all of the Torah scrolls are returned to the Ark except for one. Then the Torah is returned and the service is concluded.

Main phrases of the post + transcription + translation

Hebrew       Transcription  Translation
שִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה Śimhat tôrāh   Simchat Torah
הַקָּפָה         haqqāpāh        Encirclement
אָרוֹן            'ārôn              Ark
שֶׁבַע          Šeba'              Seven
מְגִלָּה         megillāh           Scroll

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