SIMCHAT TORAH
Simchat Torah means "Rejoicing in the Torah"
Simchat Torah is NOT a Sabbath and is NOT a High Holy Day!
Simchat Torah is two days after the end of Sukk'ot, and is on the next day after Shemini Atzeret.
Simchat Torah is NOT a God-established, God-ordained Feast / Festival or Holy Day. Simchat Torah is a tradition-based celebration instituted by men, not by God. For, after Shemini Atzeret, the next Holy Day on God's calendar is the next Passover, six months later, in the following Spring.
This means that both Hanukkah (Chanukah) and Purim, along with Simchat Torah, are NOT Biblical holy days, they are not God-established, and they are not God-ordained.
The three High Holy Days established by God are:
1 - The first day of the Feast Of Unleavened Bread (Chag Ha Matzoh) - 15 Nisan - The day after The Passover.
2 - Pentecost (Shavu'ot) - On a Sunday, very late in spring, fifty days from the first Sunday following (after) The Passover.
3 - The first day of the Feast Of Tabernacles (Sukk'ot) - 15 Tishri - Five days after Yom Kippur and fifteen days after Rosh haShanah.
These three God-ordained High Holy Days are Annual High Sabbaths, "Pilgrimage" Sabbaths.
On God's ecclesiastical calendar, there are no OTHER High Holy Days!
About which, see: Ex. 23:14-17 --- Lev. Chapter 23 --- Deu. 16:16
Modern "cultural" Hebrews follow the dictates of Orthodox Jews (today's Pharisees) and treat Simchat Torah AS IF it were a Sabbath, but Simchat Torah is NOT a Sabbath day.
Apparently, Orthodox Jews labor under the delusion that mere men are authorized to establish and inaugurate a Sabbath day where none had existed before, where God had NOT specified a Sabbath.
WHO are YOU going to believe? God, MAYBE?
The name Simchat Torah was not used until relatively recently.
In the Talmud (Rabbinical commentaries - Meg. 31b) it is called simply the second day of Shemini Atzeret.
But, according to the Hebrew's own Holy Scriptures, Shemini Atzeret is ONLY one (1) day long.
This misdirected emphasis gives cause to suspect that Hebrew religious authorities (the Orthodox Jews) have never even read their OWN Holy Scriptures because they give undue precedence to Rabbinical commentaries (Talmud, et. al.) while ignoring the "LAW" (Torah) and their Holy Scriptures (Tanakh).
Among scripturally astute individuals, much amusement is derived from noting the differences between the beliefs and practices (the customs and traditions) of modern-day "cultural" Hebrews as opposed to what The God Of Abraham has revealed to them in the Holy Scriptures.
The Hebrews possess the "Oracles Of God", yet the Hebrews cannot make any sense out of them at all.
For even if Hebrews actually DO read their own Holy Scriptures,
it is obvious that they do not understand what they are reading.
About which, SEE: Second Corinthians 3:14-16
Simchat Torah was conceived as a celebration in honor of the Biblical Ezra / Nehemiah Revival, and was first called "Celebration of the Law" before today's name "Rejoicing in the Torah" was established.
This holiday marks the completion of the annual cycle of weekly Torah readings. Each week, in Synagogue and Shul, Hebrews publicly read a few chapters from the Torah, starting with Genesis Ch. 1 and working their way around to Deuteronomy 34. On Simchat Torah, they read the last Torah portion, then proceed immediately to the first chapter of Genesis, reminding them that the reading of Torah is circular, and never ends. For on the following Shabbat (The weekly, Saturday Sabbath), Hebrews start reading the entire Torah again from the beginning of the Book of Genesis.
In many synagogues, both confirmation ceremonies and the ceremonies marking the beginning of a child's Jewish education are held at this time.
___________________________________
The following are modern Hebrew "BELIEFS" about Simchat Torah.
These are man-made traditions and customs that were not derived from the Hebrew's Holy Scriptures (Torah, Tanakh) but emerged during, and have evolved since, the Babylonian Diaspora, and have been greatly expanded upon in the Talmud (Rabbinical commentaries).
This completion of the annual cycle of weekly Torah readings is a time of great celebration. There are processions around the synagogue carrying Torah scrolls and plenty of high-spirited singing and dancing in the synagogue with the Torahs.
In many synagogues it is customary to drink hard liquor on Simchat Torah, and Simchat Torah is one of only two occasions in the year (the other is Purim) where public drunkenness is openly tolerated (and encouraged, as on Purim) as an expression of joy.
Drinking is so common during this time, in fact, a traditional source recommends performing the priestly blessing earlier than usual in the service, to make sure the Kohanim are not drunk when the time for the blessing comes. The Bible prohibits Kohanim (descendants of Aaron) from performing the priestly blessing while intoxicated. Because of concern that Kohanim who are not meticulous may imbibe during the festivities associated with the procession of the Torah scrolls and either be unable to fulfill the priestly Mitzvah of performing the Priestly Blessing or break the prohibition on performing it under the influence, the priestly blessing was moved to before the time when alcohol would be served.
But, the Hebrew's OWN Holy Scriptures prohibit drunkenness in any form, at any time, and by anyone.
As many people as possible are given the honor of an aliyah (reciting a blessing over the Torah reading); in fact, even children are called for an aliyah blessing on Simchat Torah.
In addition, as many people as possible are given the honor of carrying a Torah scroll in these processions. Children do not carry the scrolls (they are much too heavy!), but often follow the procession around the synagogue, sometimes carrying small toy Torahs (stuffed plush toys or paper scrolls).
