Simhat Torah

5 great Sukkot stops in the Gaza border area: From greenhouses to Hakafot

A farm visit, greenhouse harvesting, honey straight from the beehive, coffee with a view, and Simchat Torah events: There are plenty of reasons to head to the Gaza border region.

Simchat Torah celebrations in Sderot.
Rabbi Baruch Mordechai Ezrachi delivers a torah lesson at Ateret Yisrael Yeshiva in Jerusalem, November 19, 2019.

Are there other lessons from October 7? - opinion

An ultra-Orthodox jew prays at the Westen Wall July 17, 2002 on Tisha B'Av

The breached walls we must rebuild this Seventeenth of Tamuz - opinion

The wedding of Miriam Shani and Ofek Dotan at the Kedar sheep farm near Ma'ale Adumim, June 2026.

Beyond the Headlines: A fallen soldier's widow remarries, stories of renewal inspire - opinion


How should we observe Simchat Torah this year? - opinion

We need to seek a middle path between the usual joy of Simchat Torah and the mourning necessitated by the disaster of Simchat Torah 5784 on October 7.

 A Jewish man reads the first letters in the torah scroll during Simchat Torah celebrations at the Western Wall in Jerusalem Old City, October 10, 2020.

'Who’s the fool who told you boys don’t cry?' Approaching Simchat Torah with sorrow

This was the year an entire nation learned to cry – unashamedly and without restraint.

 EDEN GOLAN after singing ‘Hurricane’ at a rally calling for the release of the hostages at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, in May.

Simchat Torah: Grasping the divine strands of joy

It’s strained, if not seemingly impossible, to embody joy right now. The divine strands of joy around us are so dim as to be nearly invisible.

 A hand is seen reaching towards the heavens in this illustrative image.

Come together: The importance of unity on Simchat Torah - opinion

It is precisely at the one-year anniversary of Hamas's massacre that the holiday of Simchat Torah comes along, with its unique message about the centrality of unity.

 An illustrative image of Jews celebrating with Torah scrolls on Simchat Torah.

Shemini Atzeret and Simhat Torah 2024: Candle-lighting times for Israel and US

See chag times in your area.

Shabbat candles

The Herzogs host displaced youth ahead of Simhat Torah - opinion

Herzog, who has taken a particular interest in the hostages, mentions them at every opportunity, and did so  when concluding his session with the youngsters.

 President Herzog and his wife Michal in a Q&A session with displacwd youth.

On Simchat Torah, we dance because we refuse to let the darkness win - opinion

How can we dance again? It’s not just a question for Simchat Torah; it’s a question for every moment we face after loss, after tragedy, after the world splits wide open.

 An illustrative image of Jews celebrating with Torah scrolls on Simchat Torah.

Simchat Torah: Celebration vs. Mourning


Finding joy in Simchat Torah amid Israel’s struggles post-October 7 – opinion

Many are grappling with how to celebrate the holidays amid Israel’s many struggles, but Simcha Torah brings a message of hope and strength.

 MEN CARRY Torah scrolls as they dance at the completion of Simchat Torah, at the Western Wall, in 2022. The writer asks: How can we be happy this Simchat Torah?

Rabbis discuss Simchat Torah and unity in polarized, post-Oct. 7 Jewish society

The Jerusalem Post Podcast with Aaron Reich and Tal Spungin.

 Jews mark the end of the annual cycle of the reading of the Torah and the beginning of the next cycle, on Simchat Torah, at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.