Simchat Torah or Simhat Torah is a Jewish holiday that celebrates and marks the conclusion of the annual cycle of public Torah readings, and the beginning of a new cycle. A central pillar of the Jewish faith, the Torah is the holy book that details the origins of the Jewish people, the tenets of their faith, and the early history of the religion and its prophets. On Simchat Torah, falling on October 18 this year, Jewish communities celebrate the gift of the Torah and its role in religious life with joyful acknowledgement and meaningful rituals. During this time, rabbis ceremoniously remove the Torah scrolls from their ark, carry them through the congregation, and read specific passages to close out the old cycle and welcome the new.
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Also called: "Rejoicing with/of the Torah"