SIMCHAT TORAH!

Today is Simchat Torah, and it is the final day of the Fall Feasts.

Enjoy traditional Simchat Torah Song - "Sisu Vesimchu":

https://youtu.be/xRSkhAt-2NM

Succot, or the Feast of Tabernacles, is celebrated for seven days and then on the eighth day,

the Lord commands a sacred Assembly, a closing Assembly, Shemini Atzeret.

In Israel, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah (Rejoicing in the Law) are celebrated on the same day. In the Diaspora (outside of Israel), it's usually a two day holiday. The annual reading of the Torah ends and begins on Simchat Torach.

It is a joyous Feast with dancing and processing, embracing the Torah scrolls. All the Torah scrolls are removed from the ark in most synagogues and the people dance and march around with them. In Israel, you see the dancing at the Western Wall or Kotel.

As followers of the Messiah of Israel, Yeshua haMashiach, we rejoice that He is the Living Word, the Living Torah! Hallelujah!! And we dance with Him on this day of rejoicing!

Today I was reminiscing with my good friend, Curtis Loftin of Beit Yeshua, about a past celebration of dancing with the Torah scroll, when we were all together - both Highway to Zion and Beit Yeshua, along with several other Messianic groups - the photo above was from that evening.

I was saying to Curtis how I remember that night with all the dancing and kissing the Torah and remembering Yeshua and how I was so longing for Him. And at the end, like in every syngogue after dancing with the Torah on Simchat Torah, the Torah scroll is returned to the Ark and the cabinet doors are closed.

It made me sad that the Torah went away and back into the Ark. I was thinking of how this reminds me of when Yeshua came and then went back to heaven where He remains. I can only imagine what it must have felt like for His disciples when He came to earth and then ascended to heaven. How their hearts longed for see Him again. As our hearts long today.

Praise be to God for the promise that He will return to us and that He will restore all things - He will restore Israel and He will restore everything to perfection and it will be on earth! Your Kingdom come, Lord, on earth as it is in heaven!

On a soon-coming Simchat Torah, which I believe is very near, we will once again dance with Him, and this time it will be forever and ever! Be encouraged with these words:

"He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as He promised long ago through His holy prophets."

Acts 3:21

He is coming again!!

Hallelujah!!

Blessings and love in our Messiah Yeshua!

Cathy

Cathy Hargett

Highway to Zion Ministries, Inc.