In Israel, Shmeni Atzeret/Simchat Torah ended on Thursday night with large public celebrations. In Jerusalem, hundreds danced to live music at the Western Wall Plaza, Liberty Bell Park and various other sites.
Outside of Israel, Simchat Torah extends for a second day. Rabbi Yitzhak Yedidia Frenkel is credited with starting the custom of second-night hakafot (dancing around a Torah scroll) in Tel Aviv in 1942, with music distinguishing the second from the first, religiously mandated day.
This Simchat Torah, the first since Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 massacre, which also occurred on the holiday, was special. Hundreds of people, including 190 survivors and the families of 10 hostages, danced with the Torah at the city’s Ramada Hotel, accompanied by an ultra-Orthodox band in their holiday finest. The floors and walls vibrated to the music, singing and dancing.
The event was held at the request of survivors of the Nova festival massacre, who have attended Shabbatons run by Kesher Yehudi in the past and have subsequently been learning regularly with Kesher Yehudi study partners.
The survivors and families celebrated the holiday in Jerusalem together with Kesher Yehudi staff, volunteers and donors from abroad, as well as Rabbi Yedidya Rahav Meir and Rabbanit Sivan Rahav Meir, Rabbi Moshe Kenan, Rabbi Yisroel Goldwasser, Rabbi Fanger and musician Yonatan Razel.
The event included moments to remember and honor their fallen friends and loved ones, as well as special prayers for those who remain in captivity. Among the guests were Shlomi and Merav Berger, whose daughter Agam has been in Hamas captivity for over a year. Shlomi spoke to the gathering on Thursday night, saying, “What I see in front me of is the [entire] people of Israel. No sects, no streams, just all of us together, celebrating each other and the Torah. This is how it is meant to be and how we are going to merit to bring all of our hostages home and win this war.”
With full registration, people had to be turned away for lack of space.
“If each of us who came here today makes a serious commitment to really—truly—have a strong and authentic connection with another Jew in Israel that is completely different from us, then I guarantee you that another Oct. 7 cannot happen,” said Tzili Schneider, Kesher Yehudi’s founder. “We must show the Holy One, blessed be He, that his children truly love each other, no matter our differences.”
After an extended musical havdalah led by Razel, the celebrations ramped up with hakafot. The celebration went on past midnight, with more and more guests joining in, including musical entertainer from the U.S. Lipa Schmeltzer, Rabbi Meir Goldwicht from Yeshiva University, Rabbanit Yaffa Deri and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion, who also addressed the crowd.
Leah and Shmuel Rieder, of Monsey, New York, Kesher Yehudi donors sponsoring the event, attended with children and grandchildren from the United States.
“We are thrilled to share with Kesher Yehudi in giving nachat ruach [satisfaction of the spirit] to the Holy One, blessed be He, when His sons and daughters are happily accepting Shabbos, learning Torah and mitzvot,” they said.
“It is hard to put into words the extent of inspiration, joy and love we experienced this holiday,” they told JNS.
“This was an incredible glimpse of the power of the Jewish people to come together despite everything to celebrate life, and to celebrate each other. It is the greatest tribute to Hashem to be with these precious, hurting souls and to come together with them to sing, pray and connect.”