Simhat Torah

Freedom under fire: Independence Day and the shared song of Israel-Iran resilience - opinion

This Independence Day will be infused with the knowledge that Israel has the power to withstand those who seek to destroy it

AN ISRAELI flag seen next to a sign pointing toward a protected space outside Mahaneh Yehuda Market in Jerusalem.
Members of the Agranat Commission investigate the military’s failures in the prelude to the Yom Kippur War.

Fifty years on, Israel repeats previous mistakes leading to the October 7 massacre - opinion

An illustrative image of a man reaching for medicine in a medicine cabinet.

Miracle in the medicine cabinet: A Simchat Torah story of healing and joy - opinion

PEOPLE MARK the conclusion of Simchat Torah at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv last week, even as the clock continues to tick, still awaiting the return of hostages killed in captivity in Gaza. Simchat Torah was a mix of emotions this year, the writer notes.

Going it alone: Israel’s healing won’t come from the world—it must come from within - opinion


More women are celebrating Simhat Torah in Australia - opinion

Many women from all over the world have described watching from the sidelines as feeling like spectators on what is supposed to be a day of celebrations.

 CELEBRATING SIMHAT Torah in Gush Etzion.

Bereshit: A reminder of our control over our destiny

Hashem begins by asking Cain why he is angry and sad and continues with the following verse: (Genesis 4:7) הֲל֤וֹא אִם־תֵּיטִיב֙ שְׂאֵ֔ת וְאִם֙ לֹ֣א תֵיטִ֔יב לַפֶּ֖תַח חַטָּ֣את רֹבֵ֑ץ וְאֵלֶ֨יךָ֙ תּ

 Sunset at the Jezreel Valley.

Grapevine October 19, 2022: A peopled holy day

Movers and shakers in Israeli society.

 ‘THE FEAST of the Rejoicing of the Law at the Synagogue in Leghorn, Italy’ (1850) by Solomon Alexander Hart.

Israel's Netanyahu refuses to be in photos with extremist ally Ben-Gvir

The two politicians attended a Simhat Torah event on Monday night, although Itamar Ben-Gvir was told he could not be on the stage at the same time as Benjamin Netanyahu.

 L: Otzma Yehudit leader MK Itamar Ben Gvir. R: Likud leader, former-prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Simhat Torah: Meet the Israeli nonprofits providing 'Torah happiness'

They may be ‘nonprofits,’ but there’s lots of reward in doing good & saving lives. Here are a few of my favorites.

 MY PIECE of the Puzzle staff.

Simhat Torah: Russian-Jewish stories about the holiday - excerpt

Rabbi Jonathan Porath didn’t make countless trips to Russia. He counted them – 175 trips from 1965 through 2019. The following is an excerpt from his book centered primarily on Simhat Torah.

 ANNOUNCEMENT OF ‘Hanukkah in Siberia’ winter festival in Tumen, Siberia, December 1995.

Simhat Torah: Why Jews should look in the mirror now

This analysis of a midrashic text is obviously not intended as a comment on or opinion about the recent United States Supreme Court decision.

 ‘THE FEAST of the Rejoicing of the Law at the Synagogue in Leghorn, Italy’ (1850) by Solomon Alexander Hart.

2 asteroids to pass Earth as Sukkot ends, Simhat Torah begins - NASA

Sukkot, a Jewish holiday associated with happiness and celebration, is about to end, and two asteroids are set to pass by Earth as it does on Hoshana Raba.

 An asteroid is seen passing by the Earth in a flyby (Illustrative).

The Torah and the Jewish people have an age-old love affair - opinion

The historian Cecil Roth had a theory that Simhat Torah was modeled on a wedding, and that the festival's customs are derived from Jewish marriage.

 Celebrations take place at the Western Wall after the conclusion of Simhat Torah, last year.

Simhat Torah: Fun activities in Israel for the long weekend

Take advantage of the elusive autumn; go on nature tours and take part in festivals and activities for the whole family. 

 Paprika Festival