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Glite Dictionary
Simchas Torah

Simchas Torah

9.4
A Jewish holy day at the end of Sukkot when people celebrate finishing the yearly Torah readings
  • noun
  • /ˈsɪm.khɑs ˈtɔː.rə/
translation icon : Simjat Torá
  • On Simchas Torah, the congregation completes the yearly cycle of Torah readings and immediately begins again from Genesis.

Examples

  • Jewish communities around the world celebrate Simchas Torah with joyous dancing and singing.

  • Children often carry flags and dance during the festivities of Simchas Torah.

  • On Simchas Torah, the congregation completes the yearly cycle of Torah readings and immediately begins again from Genesis.

  • We celebrate Simchas Torah with joy and dancing.

  • Is Simchas Torah your favorite holiday?

  • Jewish communities around the world celebrate Simchas Torah with joyous dancing and singing.

  • Children often carry flags and dance during the festivities of Simchas Torah.

Synonyms

Simchat Torah
vsSimchas Torah
1 8.4

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

is a traditional alternative spelling used in some communities
Simhath Torah
vsSimchas Torah
9.9

A Jewish festival celebrating the end of the yearly Torah readings

is the more familiar spelling in other texts and communities
Simhat Torah
vsSimchas Torah
9.6

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

is the standard transliterated form used widely in descriptions
Shimchath Torah
vsSimchas Torah
9.9

A Jewish festival when people finish and immediately begin the yearly Torah readings, often with singing and dancing

focuses on the festival without mentioning the recommencement detail
Rejoicing in the Law
vsSimchas Torah
9.9

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

is the original transliterated name used in religious language
Rejoicing of the Law
vsSimchas Torah
9.9

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

is the transliterated form more common in community usage
Rejoicing over the Law
vsSimchas Torah
9.9

A Jewish festival celebrating finishing the yearly reading of the Torah

is the transliterated name usually used in religious contexts

Surface Forms

Simchas Torah singular
Simchas Torahs plural

Morphology

Simchas + Torah

If a learner knows 'Simchas' as rejoicing/joy and 'Torah' as the Jewish scripture, the phrase transparently composes to 'rejoicing of the Torah' and signals a joyful Torah-related celebration. However, 'Simchas' is a non-English (Hebrew/Yiddish) form and the precise cultural meaning ( timing at the end of Sukkot and completion of the reading cycle) is not fully predictable from the constituents alone, so full understanding requires cultural knowledge.

Etymology

Simchas Torah comes from the Hebrew words Simchas and Torah, meaning 'joy' and 'the Torah'. On this holiday people finish the year's readings of the Torah and dance with the scrolls, so the name points to a joyful celebration that marks the end of the yearly readings and the fact that they start them again.