HISTORY OF SIMCHAT TORAH

 

HISTORY OF SIMCHAT TORAH

Originating sometime in the Medieval period, Simchat Torah celebrates the conclusion of one and beginning of another cycle of Torah reading. The holiday lasts one to two days, with some more Orthodox communities observing it on the day following Shemini Atzeret. 

Unlike other Jewish holidays, Simchat Torah doesn’t appear in biblical texts. After the Prophet Moses established weekly scripture readings on Shabbat mornings and festivals, and the Prophet Ezra adding readings on Mondays, Thursdays, and Shabbat afternoons, an order was eventually established.

Babylonian Jews divided the Torah into 54 sections to be read over a year. Later, 12th century European Jews began adding the Genesis reading to the Simchat Torah ritual to assert the belief that every ending leads to a new beginning. During the 20th century, the Simchat Torah gained new significance as a public assertion of Jewish identity, using the joyful and celebratory public dancing around the Torah to affirm and take pride in the Jewish religion and culture.

By Jewish custom, a new beginning must immediately follow an ending. During the Torah reading at Simchat Torah, the beginning of Genesis is read right after the end of Deuteronomy, closing and renewing the cycle.

In contrast with other Jewish holy days that center on the family in the home, Simchat Torah activities focus on the synagogue and the community. The holiday honors the importance of the Torah, Judaism’s holy book, celebrating with joyful dances and rituals that center the book as a pillar of the community. During the evening service, the rabbi brings the Torah through the congregation, who engages in a dance symbolizing their gratitude for the gift of the gospel.

SIMCHAT TORAH TIMELINE

1312 BCE

Exodus

Moses leads the Jewish people out of Egypt in one of history’s most epic journeys, wandering the desert for forty years.

315-337 C.E.

Constantine Restricts Judaism

As Christianity becomes dominant in Europe, Roman Emperor Constantine outlaws conversion to Judaism and restricts Jewish religious services.

17th Century C.E.

First Torah Scroll

The first Torah scroll is scribed by Yemenite Jews.

May 14, 1948

Israel Formed

After the United Nations approves the formation of a Jewish state, the State of Israel declares itself as an independent nation on May 14, 1948.

SIMCHAT TORAH FAQS

Jewish Cemeteries - Locations

Also in the Trenton area are HIGHTSTOWN and PERRINEVILLE. Thank you to Mrs. Barry Lavine, 19 Cedar Street, Potsdam, NY 13676 and A. Arthur Sugerman This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , on 15 February 2001 for contributing much of the Trenton information. Jewish cemeteries in the Trenton New Jersey area range from private (Jewish only) cemeteries to consecrated Jewish ground within larger non-sectarian cemeteries. The oldest cemeteries are Jewish only, surrounded by high fences, and are filled except for a handful of graves. They are maintained and immaculately groomed by their synagogues. The next group of Jewish-only cemeteries, several congregations, and small lodge cemeteries, is located near Cedar Lane in Hamilton Township. Short fences with concrete footpaths surround these cemeteries. They are not large, are well maintained, but are reaching capacity. The newer cemeteries are dedicated Jewish grounds within larger public cemeteries in both Hamilton and Ewing Townships. These have black-topped roads for vehicles; the Jewish sections are open without any enclosures. Many of the Jewish funerals were under the direction of Poulson & Van Hise (now at 650 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville, Telephone: 396-8168), Schutzbank (Riverside Memorial Chapels, 1310 Prospect Street, Ewing Township, Telephone: 771-9109), and more recently Orland's Ewing Memorial Chapel (1534 Pennington Road, Trenton, Telephone: 883-1400). Adath Israel Cemetery: Greenwood Cemetery, Hamilton Township, and Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Ewing Township. Adath Israel Congregation was the first Conservative synagogue being organized in a meeting held on September 30, 1923. Adath Israel Congregation, 1958 Lawrenceville Road, Lawrenceville. Telephone: 896-4977. Brith Sholem TCL 39: Pitman Avenue, Hamilton Township. Brothers of Israel (Achainy B'nai Israel) Cemetery: Liberty and Vroom Streets, Trenton, New Jersey, and Cedar Lane, Hamilton Township. Brothers of Israel was the first Orthodox synagogue incorporated on May 28, 1883, but not fully established until May 14, 1886. In 1885 they laid out a burial ground on Liberty and Vroom Streets adjoining the Har Sinai Cemetery. In 1907 it was enlarged. The Vroom and Liberty Streets cemetery is fully enclosed with wrought iron fencing with occasional brick/stone pediments. The name of the congregation is on the gate that is in the center fronting Vroom Street. No roadways for vehicles but there are paved walkways. Well kept but crowded. Medium to large stones, with many larger markers with long Yiddish inscriptions. In 1913, they established an auxiliary cemetery at Cedar Lane and Clover Avenue, in Hamilton Township. This spacious cemetery fronting Cedar Lane has more recent burials. Brothers of Israel has been Conservative for many years. Cemetery records are maintained by 530 Washington Crossing Rd, Newtown, PA 18940-2906, (215) 579-2200 . Congregation of the People of Truth (Anshe Emes) Cemetery: Ridge Avenue and Cedar Lane, and Clover Section, further east on Pitman Avenue, Hamilton Township. People of the Truth was the next Orthodox synagogue starting in the late 1880s or early 1890s, incorporated in December 1891. In 1893, they established a cemetery near Cedar Lane, in Hamilton Township. The first cemetery at Ridge Avenue and Cedar Lane, fronting on Cedar Lane, has a locked vehicular gate, but no paved roads. The cemetery is surrounded by chain-linked fencing and is all grassy without walkways. Stones are newer and medium-size. The second cemetery further east and entered from Pitman Avenue is enclosed by a large wrought iron fence with a gate with Anshe Emet in Hebrew and a sign "People of Truth Cemetery Association-Clover Section" to the right of the gate. A single black-topped foot path goes through the center from front to rear. A grouping of trees is in the rear on the left. The stones are medium to large with the larger stones often having long Yiddish inscriptions. People of Truth is now merged into Poale Emet. People of Truth Clover Section on Cedar Lane has one Jewish burial (name unknown) in the Chambersburg section of Trenton. Source: Shari Myers e-mail: sharim@angelfire.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it UPDATE: Arthur Sugerman questions Shari Myers ascertion about Jewish burials in Chambersburg, a primarily Italian area. [date?] Congregation Ahavath Israel Cemetery: two cemeteries on Pitman Avenue off Cedar Lane, and Ahavath Israel-Workman's Circle Br. 90 on Ridge Avenue, Hamilton Township. This Orthodox shul was incorporated in December 1909. The founders were mainly of Austro-Hungarian extraction. Ahavath Israel has been Conservative for many years. The two burial grounds with main entrances from Pitman Avenue cover the block over to Clover Avenue. There are also entrances on Clover Avenue. The two cemeteries are separated by the cemeteries for Workmen's Circle Br. #90 and Brith Shalom TCL 39 and Trenton Young Judea. A third burial ground Ahavath Israel-Workman's Circle Br. 90 is on Ridge Avenue. Ahavath Israel Congregation, 1130 Lower Ferry Road, Ewing. Telephone: 882-3092. Congregation Workers of Truth (Poale Emet) Cemetery: Cedar Lane and Pitman Avenue, Hamilton Township. This Orthodox shul was incorporated in 1919. A chain-linked fence surrounds the cemetery, with no roads within. Congregation Workers of Truth, 832 West State, Trenton. Telephone: 396-2231. Ewing Cemetery/Crematorium: 78 Scotch Road, Ewing Township. Telephone: 882-0279.Har Sinai Section--Usual headstones of small to medium size. Young Judea Section-more recent burial ground. Fountain Lawn Memorial Park: #13296 in Cemeteries of the US by Deborah M. Burek, ed. Gale Research Int., Detroit MI (1994) ISBN 0-8103-9245-3. Source: Al Rosenfield: Fortitude Benevolent Association: Pitman Avenue, Hamilton Township. Fountain Lawn Memorial Park: 545 Eggert Crossing Road, Ewing Township. Telephone: 882-7744. Non-sectarian with consecrated Jewish section. One black-topped road through the center. Adath Israel Section is marked with an engraved large gray marble obelisk. Dedicated in 1953. Flat grave markers only. Family plots. Hebrew Gardens--Non-denominational Jewish area. #13296 in Cemeteries of the US by Deborah M. Burek, ed. Gale Research Int., Detroit MI (1994) ISBN 0-8103-9245-3. Source: Al Rosenfield: Greenwood Cemetery: 1800 Hamilton Avenue, Hamilton Township. Telephone: 587-4993. Non-sectarian with consecrated Jewish section. Blacktopped roads. Well-maintained. No enclosures marking the Jewish section. Adath Israel Section--Closer to Greenwood Avenue than Har Sinai's area. Flat markers, small markers and medium markers. Includes large family plots. Har Sinai Section--Very well kept with some imposing monuments and vaults. Har Sinai Cemetery: Vroom and Liberty Street, Trenton, and Ewing Cemetery, 78 Scotch Road, Ewing Township. Har Sinai was the first German synagogue starting around 1860 with services in German and Hebrew. The Har Sinai Cemetery Association was organized at a meeting held on November 19, 1857, before the start of their first services. In that same year, a lot was purchased for burial purposes at the corner of Vroom and Liberty Streets, Trenton, New Jersey. Chevra Bikur Cholim was founded around 1876/1877 with Herman Rosenbaum as president. Har Sinai moved to a purpose-built building after 1904 and at that time officially became Reform. Har Sinai Temple, 491 Bellevue Avenue, Trenton. Telephone: 392-7143. The Vroom and Liberty Streets Har Sinai Cemetery has old small-sized stones (pre-1900) which are few with many illegible due to weathering and moss growth. Knights of Pythias: Clover Avenue off Cedar Lane, Hamilton Township. The cemetery is surrounded by chain-linked fences without any roads within. The area is grassy with flat, small, and medium markers. Trenton Young Judea Association: Pitman Avenue, Hamilton Township, and more recent burial ground at Ewing Cemetery. Workmen's Circle Cemetery Br. #90: Pitman Avenue, Hamilton Township. The Workmen's Circle began its activities in 1924.