Dancing With The Torah
There is a tradition that if the Torah is
dropped, the one responsible must fast for 40
days. In other words, the Torah makes for a
difficult dance partner, particularly on
Simchat Torah, when we hold onto the Torah
with all our strength, as we whirl, twirl and
spin around. Dancing with the Torah is like
dancing with your newborn children and your
parents and at the same time. Like a newborn, we
dress the Torah and cradle it, kiss it, and
protect it. Like a parent, we respect the Torah,
challenge it, and learn from its words.
Meditation
May the Torah leads us in our sacred dance
just as Miriam and her tambourine led us at the
crossing of the sea.
Ritual
Hold on to the Torah placing one hand
underneath it and on its handles, and the other
around its waist. Lean it to your left side,
over your heart. Then dance! There are no right
or wrong steps, only steps of joy. When it is
time to pass on the Torah scroll, seek someone
who may not yet have had the opportunity to
dance with the Torah.
Blessing
(As you are given a Torah scroll to hold, or
as you enter into the circle of dancers)
Blessed is the Holy One who gave us the gift
of Torah.
Teaching
And Miriam the Prophetess, the sister of
Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all
the women went out after her with tambourines
and all the women danced. And Miriam sang unto
them . (Exodus 15:20-21 )
And father, always so quiet, so calm, moves
from his place, makes his way toward the dancing
men, and falls into the whirling ring. The chain
of people gives a tug and swallows him…From the
corner I watch father. I look for him among the
dancers. There is his head, slightly bent to one
side, his eyes lowered, his long beard afloat.
There he is, whirling as in a sweet dream, his
whole body melting with pleasure. (Bella
Chagall, Burning Lights)
Simchat Torah is intended to be
crowded, so use a space that is a bit too
small...so that people can crowd in and be
intimate and close, and so the music is loud and
strong…
(Sarah Shendelman and Avram Davis,
Traditions)
(CLAL Faculty)
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