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== Hakafot == | == Hakafot == | ||
The Jewish custom is to circle the Torah reading platform with Torah scrolls on the night and day of Simchat Torah, celebrating with joy, songs, and dancing to mark the completion of reading the entire Torah. This custom began in Ashkenazi countries hundreds of years ago and spread to Sephardic communities. Rabbi Chaim Vital brought that his teacher, the Arizal, followed this custom, and showed its source in the Zohar: | The Jewish custom is to circle the Torah reading platform with Torah scrolls on the night and day of Simchat Torah, celebrating with joy, songs, and dancing to mark the completion of reading the entire Torah. This custom began in Ashkenazi countries hundreds of years ago and spread to Sephardic communities. Rabbi Chaim Vital brought that his teacher, [[the Arizal]], followed this custom, and showed its source in the Zohar: | ||
"And Israel customarily makes joy with it, and it is called Simchat Torah. And they crown the Torah scroll with its crown." | "And Israel customarily makes joy with it, and it is called Simchat Torah. And they crown the Torah scroll with its crown." | ||
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For our Rebbeim, the Hakafot on Shemini Atzeret were more serious compared to Simchat Torah, where the joy was greater and beyond measurement (though in recent years the Rebbe instituted that even on Shemini Atzeret, the Hakafot should be with boundless joy). | For our Rebbeim, the Hakafot on Shemini Atzeret were more serious compared to Simchat Torah, where the joy was greater and beyond measurement (though in recent years the Rebbe instituted that even on Shemini Atzeret, the Hakafot should be with boundless joy). | ||
The Rebbe Rashab once asked his father, the Rebbe Maharash: "What is the meaning of Hakafot?" He answered: "Hakafot means pleading with our Father - our Father in Heaven with tears of blood, 'my tears have been my bread,' have mercy and break the yoke of the nations from our necks. The nations being the body and animal soul. We dance with the Torah scroll with joy, with an open mind and open heart, but internally tears of blood flow." | [[The Rebbe Rashab]] once asked his father, [[the Rebbe Maharash]]: "What is the meaning of Hakafot?" He answered: "Hakafot means pleading with our Father - our Father in Heaven with tears of blood, 'my tears have been my bread,' have mercy and break the yoke of the nations from our necks. The nations being the body and animal soul. We dance with the Torah scroll with joy, with an open mind and open heart, but internally tears of blood flow." | ||
== Torah Reading == | == Torah Reading == | ||