This Friday we celebrate Simchat Torah. It is the holiday where we celebrate as we finish the reading of the Torah with the last portion of the entire Torah and begin a new cycle of reading with the chanting of the first book of the Torah: the story of creation.
In the last portion of the last book of the scroll- V’zot Habracha- we hear Moses’ last charge to the Israelite people. Then we recount Moses’ final moments as he ascends Mount Nebo to die. The people mourn for Moses and following this, Joshua takes command of the Israelite nation.
As this reading finishes, we commence the story of creation.
It is the wondrous beginning to our peoples’ epic journey. With the opening words: ”In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth…” not only are the stars, the heavens, the waters and all of God’s creatures formed- but the story of our people, the story of which you and I and our children and grandchildren are a part unfolds.
As we read the story of creation, we know that our patriarchs, our historical mothers, the saga of Noah, the trials of Moses, the journey through the desert, the ten commandments will all open up and dance upon the pages of the Torah before us. Even though we read and reread week after week, year after year, generation after generation, we read each time with a new set of eyes, we hear the stories with new ears and we interpret the stories with new found wisdom and new interpretations.
We tell the stories over and over and teach them to our children, who in turn will share them with the next and next and next generation.
The last word of the Torah is “Yisrael.” The first word of the Torah is “Bereshhet.” The last letter of the Torah is a lamed- the first letter is a vet. When we combine the first and last letter- it makes the word “lev” (heart).
When we end the Torah reading and begin again- we take the Torah to our heart. Like the v’ahavta prayer tells us: with all your heart- with all your soul- with all your might. The study of Torah is the center of our bodies- it is the center of our lives. The Torah is the center of Judaism, for it is the source from which all else emanates.
As you hear the last and first words on Simchat Torah, and you (virtually) dance with the Torah and hold it (virtually) close to your body- this year pull it in a little closer and a little tighter and let the ancient parchment touch you and renew the commitment to study, Jewish life, and acts of loving kindness.
Shabbat Shalom
Cantor Evan Kent