Simchat Torah

It was pure, unadulterated joy.

That is how I would describe the experience Jess, Kathleen, and I had at Congregation Agudas Achim last night. The three of us gathered with the local Jewish congregation to celebrate Simchat Torah, a festive holiday where Jews give thanks for the scriptures.

They carry the congregation's seven Torah scrolls and dance together with them. And though it's sacred, it isn't formal or rigid. It is full of play.

It was beautiful.

Congregation Agudas Achim has a Cantor named Neil Blumofe. He's wonderful! He sings the Hebrew Scriptures in amazing ways, and he is so inviting. When we arrived last night, Hazzan Neil was asking questions of the congregation, particularly children: "How many books are in the Torah? Can you name some of the prophets? Who are the main characters of the scriptures?" As people shouted out answers, Hazzan Neil threw them candy.

At one point, I chimed in too. "Ezekiel!" I exclaimed as I threw my hands into the air.

Peanut M&Ms!

Then the singing and dancing began, and as the night went on, it became increasingly more festive. I loved the way that this congregation felt they could celebrate the sacred playfully together. They seemed to have very few inhibitions. They were simply living as the Children of God they are.

Jess, Kathleen, and I danced with them, and we felt very welcomed in their midst.

And toward the end of the celebration, Hazzan Neil invited everyone to stand in a circle. He and another person unscrolled the Torah, one moving to the left and the other to the right. People stood around the Torah and held it with prayer shawls. The entire Torah encircled the people.

"This Torah is our house. It houses us," Hazzan Neil said. Then he took the children and a few others into the circle for a tour of the story that has peopled them. They walked around the circle and looked at the Hebrew.

"Here is where Abraham ventured into a new land. Here is where the people went into Egypt. Here is where they wandered in the desert, and here is where Moses blessed the people for the last time."

As they walked around the Torah, they told these stories and sang songs. It was a beautiful representation of faith and what it means to be the People of God.

Finally, Hazzan Neil said, "And look around you at the people holding the Torah. We're part of the Torah too. What is it we are supposed to do with our lives?"

"Write our own Torah," the people answered.

That's exactly what Congregation Agudas Achim did last night in their synagogue. And we're so thankful we got to be a part of it.

-Renee