What do you do for hakafot in Simchat Torah?

For more information, see 10 Tips for Simchat Torah at Home. The joyous climax of Simchat Torah is the dancing of hakafot (lit. “circles”), during which we dance and sing with the Torah scrolls. 1 In the words of one Chassidic master, “On Simchat Torah the Torah scrolls wish to dance, so we become their feet.”

When was the hakafot mentioned in the Bible?

Hakafot are mentioned by the Maharil (1365-1427) and then not mentioned again until the end of the 16 th century by the saintly Rema (1530-1572), who writes, “It is the custom to circle the bimah with the Torah scrolls, just as they circle it with the lulav [on Hoshanah Rabah].”

Do you need a minyan for a Hakafot?

Though ideally the hakafot should be performed with a minyan (quorum of ten adult men), this is not a necessary prerequisite; the hakafot can be performed in their entirety in the absence of a minyan. 2. In some chassidic communities, hakafot are also performed on the day of Shemini Atzeret.

Is it OK to leave the Hakafot at home?

The hakafot are a memorable event, certainly one of the highlights on the Jewish calendar. It is a kid-friendly event; they should not be left at home!

What is the first verse of Simchat Torah?

Once that is done, the actual Simchat Torah service begins with the recitation of a collection of biblical verses. The first verse opens with the words atah hor’eisa, and lends its name to all the subsequent verses, so that they are all called Atah Hor’eisas (or Atah Hor’eitas).

What to expect at Simchat Torah services-Sukkot?

Sure there are the Torahs, and there are Hebrew prayers, but there is also dancing, singing, capering, snacking, and maybe even some (moderate) drinking in the synagogue. Unique Simchat Torah services, celebrating the completion of the yearly Torah reading cycle, are held at night and then during the day. Let’s have a look. Calling All Kids!

How many times is Atah ha Raita chanted?

Before the dancing commences, a set of seventeen verses, called Atah Ha’raita, is chanted three times.