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Glite Dictionary
Shimchath Torah

Shimchath Torah

9.9
A Jewish festival when people finish and immediately begin the yearly Torah readings, often with singing and dancing
  • noun
  • /ʃɪmˈkɑːθ ˈtɔːrə/
translation icon : Simjat Torá
  • During Shimchath Torah, it is customary to read the last passage of the Torah and immediately begin again from Genesis.

Examples

  • Many families celebrate Shimchath Torah by dancing with the Torah scrolls at the synagogue.

  • The festive atmosphere of Shimchath Torah brings the entire congregation together in joyful celebration.

  • We celebrate Shimchath Torah with joy and singing.

  • On Shimchath Torah, the community comes together.

  • During Shimchath Torah, it is customary to read the last passage of the Torah and immediately begin again from Genesis.

  • Many families celebrate Shimchath Torah by dancing with the Torah scrolls at the synagogue.

  • The festive atmosphere of Shimchath Torah brings the entire congregation together in joyful celebration.

Synonyms

Simchat Torah
vsShimchath Torah
1 8.4

A Jewish festival to celebrate finishing the yearly Torah readings and starting them again with dancing and singing

is focused on both completion and the restart of readings
Simhath Torah
vsShimchath Torah
9.9

A Jewish festival celebrating the end of the yearly Torah readings

is about completion plus immediate recommencement of the cycle
Rejoicing over the Law
vsShimchath Torah
9.9

A Jewish festival celebrating finishing the yearly reading of the Torah

is the same holiday but highlights the restart of the yearly readings
Rejoicing of the Law
vsShimchath Torah
9.9

A Jewish holiday celebrating the end of the yearly reading of the Torah

adds the idea of restarting the cycle after completion
Rejoicing in the Law
vsShimchath Torah
9.9

A Jewish holiday when people joyfully celebrate finishing the yearly reading of the Torah

stresses both finishing and immediately beginning the cycle again
Simhat Torah
vsShimchath Torah
9.6

A Jewish holiday at the end of Sukkot when people celebrate finishing the yearly Torah readings

specifies exact calendar dates and the restart after completion
Simchas Torah
vsShimchath Torah
9.4

A Jewish holy day at the end of Sukkot when people celebrate finishing the yearly Torah readings

focuses on the dates and the recommencement of the cycle

Surface Forms

Shimchath Torah singular

Morphology

Shimchath + Torah

The phrase is a transparent compound of a Hebrew word meaning 'rejoicing/celebration' (Shimchath) plus 'Torah' (the Torah), so its meaning as a festival celebrating the Torah and the completion of readings is directly derivable from the constituents. Although it is a transliterated proper name and culturally specific, its compositional structure is clear and similar 'rejoicing of X' constructions exist cross-linguistically, so a learner who knows both parts would understand it.

Etymology

Shimchath Torah comes from the words Shimchath, meaning 'joy' or 'rejoicing', and Torah, the Jewish holy book. On this day people celebrate finishing the yearly reading of the Torah and immediately begin it again, often dancing with the scrolls, so the name explains the festival of 'joy with the Torah'.