Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah Service

Each year, in the synagogue the Torah is read through in a set cyclical order. Beginning with Genesis and ending with Deuteronomy. The ending of the cycle is on Shemini Atzeret, also called the 8th day of Sukkot. The next day is Simchat Torah or “Rejoicing in the Torah”. At this time, the Torah is taken from the ark (its housing) and walked or even danced around the congregation (traditionally 7 times), giving everyone a chance to touch the Torah. This is a very celebratory time and it signifies the gratefulness we have for the Word of God that is given to us in the Torah.
As a Messianic Congregation, we indeed do take joy in the Torah, as it is God’s Word, but we also take that same joy in the whole of the Word; The Torah, The Tenach (Old Testament) and the Brit Chadashah (New Testament). We do not worship the Torah, but we give it reverence as the Word of God.

Special Synagogue Readings for Simchat Torah

Torah portion: Deuteronomy 33:1-34:12 (end of the Torah) followed by Genesis 1-6:8  (called Bereshit or “in the beginning”)
Maftir (concluding portion): Numbers 29:35-30:1
Haftarah portion: Joshua 1:1-18 (for Ashkenazi Jews) or Joshua 1:1-9 (for Sephardi).