The Joy of Torah

One of the most joyous times of the year is Simchas Torah. In Israel it is combined with Shmini Atzeres. It celebrates the completion of the annual Torah reading cycle.

It is a universal custom to sing and dance in Shul for many hours on this day: First at night, upon the completion of the evening services, and then again the next day just before the reading of the final Torah portion. All the Torah scrolls are removed from the ark and given out to members of the congregation. They all sing and dance with the scrolls in hand and are joined by the entire congregation who sing and dance as exuberantly as anyone can imagine.

In fact the singing and dancing celebration takes on an aura of its own. The participants are not only celebrating the reading cycle but the Torah itself by demonstrating the importance of Torah to their lives.

To participate with or even watch people who are truly attached to Torah u'Mitzvos, singing and dancing to the point of exhaustion… in a display of love and devotion to God is a truly inspiring experience.

The joy is non sectarian. There is no Charedi joy versus Modern Orthodox Joy. There is no Chasidic Joy verses Misnagdic joy. There is no Sephardi Joy versus Ashkenazi joy. We are all one. It is a day of universal Jewish joy. All of us participate in an expression of unity of purpose, in service to God. We are glad to be God's chosen people and we want to show it!

The one time of year where it seems like all differences are put aside is on Simchas Torah. At least that has been my experience.

In recent year however there has been an extra ingredient added that can turn Simchas Torah from the major Kiddush HaShem that it is, into a Chilul HaShem. That ingredient is alcohol.

Although alcohol consumption has always been a part of the celebration on this day, it has become much more than just making Kiddush after one is called to the Torah as is everyone attending Shul on that day. Alcohol has in some cases become an item of abuse. And those who abuse alcohol on this day are doing anything but celebrating the Simcha of Torah. What used to be an acceptable form of celebrating the day has now become a matter of great concern in the Torah world.

It appears that in far too many cases young people are simply getting drunk! That leads to boorish and erratic behavior which turns a Kiddush HaShem into a Chilul HaShem. Getting drunk is not the purpose of Simchas Torah. And when it involves young people who are underage, it is illegal as well ...and in some cases very dangerous. People have died from drinking too much alcohol. Now that it has become so socially acceptable, it is all too easy for a young person to over imbibe to the point of endangering his life. What really amazes me is the parent who actually encourages drinking! Yes, I've seen that too.

With that in mind I'm glad to see that the Orthodox Union is on the same page:

The Orthodox Union in America has called on its synagogues to make sure that teenagers are not served alcohol during Simchat Torah celebrations later this week.

"The reality is that no one should overindulge in alcohol on Simchat Torah, as it is not conducive to the spirit of the day. Even adults should be careful that their celebrations do not go counter to the appropriate decorum of our synagogues,” the OU's executive vice president, Rabbi Tzvi Hersh Weinreb wrote in a letter to rabbis and presidents of OU synagogues.

“But when it comes to our youth, we must be extra zealous, for additional matters of safety and law," Weinreb added.

"Parents should know where their children - including teens - are, with whom, and what they're doing. Synagogues should not make alcohol available to minors. Authority figures should not turn a blind eye if they see underage members of their community drinking."

To this I say, Amen! …and to all a joyous Yom Tov.