Simchat Torah

By Rabbi Paul Kipnes

This Simchat Torah, our synagogue was filled with joyful celebration, sacred traditions, and meaningful moments of connection. It was a time to celebrate the completion of the annual Torah reading cycle and renew our dedication to Jewish learning, community, and heritage.

One of the highlights was our beautiful tradition of unrolling the entire Torah scroll with our Kesher K-6th graders and their parents. Seeing our youngest members stand side by side, upholding the ancient words of our people, was a powerful reminder of how we are all part of this ongoing story. We also had the joy of blessing and consecrating our newest students as they begin their Jewish educational journey with us.

In a truly special moment, we gathered as a multigenerational community to explore what Torah means to each of us. From young children to elders, we reflected on how Torah’s wisdom speaks to our lives today. Rabbi Lana led us in chanting the final verses of Deuteronomy, while Rabbi Paul brought us back to the beginning of Genesis. Together, we embraced the endless cycle of learning and growth.

At the same time, our hearts were heavy as we commemorated the Hebrew anniversary of the October 7th massacre by Hamas. We honored the memory of all who lost their lives in this horrific attack and mourned the ongoing losses since. Even in our joy, we held space for grief, resilience, and the hope for peace.

As we move forward, we kvell with pride at the creativity, connection, and deepening of our Torah and community. Check out these highlights from Simchat Torah.