Rabbi Howard Morrison

Each year at Yizkor, we recite the names of members who died in the past year.

Each year, our annual Yizkor book publicizes the names of family members who are lovingly remembered by their families.

Each year during Yizkor, we recite many of the death and concentration camps, in which millions of Jews were murdered during the Shoah.

Today is October 24. The date of October 7 passed over two weeks ago. However, it was on this date on the Hebrew calendar that horror struck. In the Diaspora, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are observed over a two-day period. In Israel, they are observed in a single day, in the same manner that in Israel the first day of Sukkot was a Yom Tov, whereas in the Diaspora, the first two days of Sukkot are called Yom Tov.

While Israeli congregations were transitioning from Yizkor to Hakafot at the same service, Diaspora synagogues were concentrating on the Yizkor of Shemini Atzeret. Tragically, whether we were dancing with Torah scrolls in Israel or focusing on prayers for rain and remembrance outside of Israel, little did we know what was happening and unfolding before our very eyes. On today's Hebrew date, 1200 people were slaughtered: Jews and non-Jews, young and old, peace-loving Jews who lived and visited near the Gaza border in Southern Israel. Hundreds of others were dragged into captivity and taken hostage at the same time.

Now, exactly a year later on the Hebrew Yahrzeit, how can we properly remember and pay respect and dignity to the lives lost on this day?

I wish we could read all the 1200 hundred names as well as the soldiers, civilians, and  hostages who have died on and since Yom Tov last year. But this cannot happen.

Instead, Beth Emeth has joined with some 1600 synagogues around the world in an initiative called the Simchat Torah Project. Here is the description from the project website:

"This October will mark the first Simchat Torah since the horrific events of October 7th.

King Solomon offers us guidance in Kohelet, which is read on Sukkot: 'There is a time for everything under the Heavens . . . a time to mourn and a time to dance.' this Simchat Torah with tears in our eyes, we will dance.

Synagogues around the world will open their holy Ark on Simchat Torah night and take out several Torah scrolls. One will be adorned with a new 'Me'il (Torah cover), designed to mark the first Yahrzeit of October 7th. This Me'il will be identical to the ones which will be created for 1600 synagogues across the world. This beautifully designed Me'il will proclaim that this Torah is dedicated in memory of the 1200 souls and the many soldiers and hostages who have since died, Al Kiddush Hashem. Each Torah Me'il will feature the name of one of the Kedoshim (holy ones) embroidered onto it. Communities around the world will dance with these Torah scrolls - thousands of communities, with hundreds of thousands if not millions of Jews being connected through this project. 

The Jewish world will be unified, knowing that across the globe, Jews are dancing with Torah scrolls that collectively link us all with the events of October 7th, and to inspire us to realize that 'Am Yisrael Chai.' Synagogues will encourage their members to come and dance with the newly robed scroll, to remember the fallen, by holding their Torah high, so that they can say, 'we will not forget what happened on Simchat Torah last year, but we are determined to dispel the darkness with light.'

This project will symbolize the Jewish people's resilience, our ability to find hope in the face of tragedy. Our 1600 communities across the globe will unite for Israel and the Jewish people."

This morning, we are incorporating the new Me'il (Torah cover) as our way of linking all the fallen since October 7^th last year into our Yizkor remembrance. Tonight, and tomorrow, we will dance with this same Me'il as our commitment to the celebration of Torah and the continuity of the Jewish people and the Jewish way of life.

Chag Sameach,

Rabbi Howard Morrison