Boulder Jewish News Arts, Culture, Events, Lifestyles, Holidays, Synagogues, Education
Don’t miss out on the fun – join us at Boulder Center for Judaism and bring your dancing shoes along for a night of Spirited dancing, and plenty of spirits as well!
This Thursday, October 12, 7:30 pm: Simchat Torah Buffet and spirited dancing and the grand finale is Friday morning, October 13 at 10:00 am when we finish the Torah and begin again! We will also have a children’s program Friday, 11:00 am.
The joyous climax of Simchat Torah is the dancing of hakafot (lit. “circles”), during which we dance and sing with the Torah scrolls. In the words of one Chassidic master, “On Simchat Torah the Torah scrolls wish to dance, so we become their feet.”
The hakafot are a memorable event, certainly one of the highlights on the Jewish calendar. It is a kid-friendly event; they should not be left at home! And you might want to pass on those uncomfortable formal dancing shoes for this participatory event; the comfortable shoes will probably be more suitable for the occasion.
The Chassidic masters explain that the Torahs are rolled shut and wrapped in their velvet coverings for the duration of the hakafot celebrations. We don’t celebrate by sitting down and studying the Torah’s holy words. This is because the celebration encompasses every Jew, no matter his or her level of Torah scholarship or ability to comprehend and interpret the Torah’s words. The Torah is the heritage of every Jew – the day-old infant is as essentially connected to the Torah as the venerated sage – and every Jew is equally entitled to celebrate on this special day.
Bring your children and implant a most joyous Jewish memory!
This is open to the entire Jewish community and free of charge. RSVP: boulderjudaism@gmail.com or 303-494-1638.
