A heartfelt thankyou to the 3CLJC and Rabbi Anna for welcoming me into their community to celebrate Simchat Torah. I am a visitor from a wild surf beach community just out of Auckland in New Zealand, visiting my friend Cherry whom I met in Israel many years ago, and this was my first experience of a Liberal service.
I really appreciated the introduction, learning how Saturday afternoon services and the Liberal movement was started by Lily Montague as a response to immigrant families from Eastern Europe, who had to work in Saturday mornings and were unable to attend morning services. Such a practical solution to ensure connection.
Rabbi Anna led into an inclusive introduction to our collective pain and the challenge of holding our hearts open to both sides of the conflict in Israel, all beautifully connected via the opening chapter of Ecclesiastes and we sang kaddish for those who were lost on October 7.
The service was visible on the overhead screen which made it really easy to follow, especially as the service drew on three different services. I particularly appreciated the distillation of the Amida, into eight words to contemplate upon – usually seven but since this was shabbat there was an additional element.
Moving into the more celebratory part of the service the children were asked what were the last words of the Torah and one of the cheder children, Isaac, gave a great answer, after which the children were then invited forward with their freshly made flags, to assist with opening the ark and taking out and undressing the two Torah scrolls. Rabbi Anna opened the Torah scroll, assisted by the children, who held the scroll open on the final section using the etze’ hayim (Torah handles) – and we heard how Moshe died at 120 years while still in good health! and was buried in an unknown location. This was followed by the unrolling of the second scroll at the very beginning of the Torah and we started the cycle again, bringing light to the world.
And then it was time to dance, but first, each child was given a miniature torah scroll to dance with. Rabbi Anna deftly and skilfully created a circle of dancers and calling the steps we all began to dance with the Torah. It was a remarkably inclusive feeling and I loved how the children were the centre of the occasion. We all learnt the vine step and while we may not have been the most coordinated dance troupe, we danced with good intentions and some joy.
Later, after the Torah scrolls had been returned the ark and the community notices, there was a generous and abundant afternoon tea and more welcoming conversation. A strong feeling of gratitude and a gentle beginning to the new year. I really liked the low key but comprehensively inclusive service which gave space to acknowledge the current escalation of conflict, yet allowed us to feel free to celebrate Simchat Torah as a community, in true spirit.
Thank you for having me!
