The festival of Sukkot leads right into another major Jewish holiday called Simchat Torah (literally ‘The Joy of Torah).  This celebration marks the end of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, as the very last Torah portion is read on this day.  To show that the reading of studying of the Torah is never finished, a public reading of the first portion of the Torah immediately follows this final portion, and the ensuing celebration leads the community into a new cycle.

The holiday is notable for several special holiday prayers, including the performance of the Priestly Blessing, wherein descendants of the Kohanim (the High Prists) recite a priestly blessing over the congregation.  The roots of this tradition reach far back to Temple times, and this benediction is only performed several times year

Simchat Torah services are also a bit unusual in that this is the only time of the year that the Torah scrolls are removed from the ark and read during the evening.  Every time the Torah scrolls are removed from their spot in the ark and brought out into the congregation, worshippers show their joy by dancing and singing with the scrolls.  The Torah scrolls are carried around the sanctuary seven times, an event which resembles a joyous parade of singers and dancers and can often spill into the streets.  This is a very happy occasion, and reestablishment of the Jewish people’s covenant with the Torah is likened to the passionate reunion of a groom with his bride (taken from Biblical verses which state that the Jews are betrothed to the Torah as a wife is to her husband).  Children enjoy sweet treats of candy and fruit to symbolize that “the commandment of the Lord as sweeter than honey”.