Dancin' with the Torah

Simchat Torah - "Rejoicing in the Torah"

As the Torah scroll was handed into my eager arms, I heard someone say, "Hold it close to your heart!"  And so it was that I pulled the written Word close to my heart, as one would do with a newborn babe.  And then, encircled by a joyous congregation, by the rhythmic clapping of hands, along with songs of praise and worship, I began to dance.  With the Torah in my heart and in my arms, I set my feet to dancing. 

Torah is Life!

I was dancing with the Words of Life!  Such was my experience in celebrating the eighth and final day of Sukkot.  The joy of Simchat Torah - "Rejoicing in the Torah," impressed me deeply and engraved precious memories upon my heart.  

The Torah of Moses, to which I clung, is a single scroll which includes the first five books of the Bible.  In recent years I have come to recognize that what gives these particular books of instruction such great significance is the unparalleled way in which God's teachings were given to Moses.  

Among all the Biblical writers, Moses was unique in that he was the only prophet through whom God spoke so directly and clearly, mouth to mouth, and face to face.  Thus the Torah, written by Moses, is foundational to the rest of the Bible, and the precepts therein set forth a precedent upon which every proceeding word of Scripture must agree.  

Our eldest member clinging to the Ancient Words!

On the eighth day of Sukkot, the men of the congregation read a final portion of the Torah.....the last words of Moses before his death.  Moses' blessing upon the tribes of Israel, at the end of Deuteronomy, bring us to the very end of the scroll.  Another yearly Torah-reading cycle comes to completion.  But then, just as we reach the end, we begin again.  We scroll back to the book of beginnings.....to Creation....to newness of life.  And then the women, the "life-givers" read....from Genesis.  We bless the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, the Creator of Light and Life, the One who was and is and is coming again.

"Hold it close to your heart!"

It is significant that Simchat Torah occurs on the eighth day, following the seven day Festival of Sukkot. The Biblical meaning of the number eight represents new beginnings.  The eighth day represents a new week.  Eight people were saved in the ark to re-populate the earth.  Circumcision took place on the eighth day. Because of Biblical patterns of prophecy and providence, and because of circumstantial evidence that I have come to understand, I can't help but believe that Simchah Torah was the eighth day of life for the Messiah.   It fits so perfectly.  Read or watch more on this here:  https://jewishvoice.wordpress.com/2010/09/23/why-sukkot-is-yeshuas-real-birthday/


In taking the Torah into my arms on Simchat Torah, I thought about Messiah's eighth day of life.....the day in which the Hope of Israel received in his body the bloody sign of circumcision to confirm the Abrahamic covenant.  Likewise, it was on his eighth day that he was named....."he was given the name Yeshua ('the LORD saves'), which is what the angel had called him before his conception" - Luke 2:21, because he would save his people from their sins - Matthew 1:21.

The Living Torah, our Tree of Life, our Yeshua (Salvation) has come and He is coming again!  In Him all the fullness of God came to dwell - Colossians 1:19, and in Him all the promises of God are "Yes" and "Amen"! - 2 Corinthians 1:20.

Two wooden blocks I painted with the words of an ancient Hebrew blessing.

 Torah is Life

It is a tree of life to all who hold fast to it, and all who uphold it are happy.  

It's ways are ways of pleasantness and all its paths are peace.
- Ancient Hebrew Blessing