25/26 October 2024, 24 Tishrei 5785

Goodness. Here we are, at the end of the month of Tishri with Simchat Torah, our last festival and often the most intense, as we finish the cycle of Torah with the last words of Deuteronomy and begin again with Genesis. It is always a wrench to let go of the month of festivals of the narrative arc that sees us beginning with Rosh Hashanah, through the ten days of reflection, out into the physicality of Sukkot and then finally, this moment of Torah.

Rashi, on Leviticus 23:36, suggests the end of Sukkot – Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah – is rather like a king who invites his children to a celebration for a certain number of days. When the time comes to depart, he says, “My children, I beg of you, linger with Me another day; your parting is difficult for Me.”

I understand that.

Me’or Einayim was an 18th century Ukrainian Chasidic commentator. He suggests Torah is meaningful to us because it’s like a mirror to our own lives and we will always find something that resonates – and so we will this year.

In a way, we have held our collective breaths since last Simchat Torah 5784. Maybe you remember that Saturday morning, as I do, and the quick decisions we had to make to adjust our service as the news came in from Israel. But we have navigated this year together.

It has been intense for those of us working as ‘professional’ Jews but also, actually, for anyone who identifies Jewishly. We have all carried it. This week we have planned carefully to ensure we mark this ending sensitively, adjusting to this most significant of anniversaries.

Wednesday evening will be joyful for our children and families. We honour Natasha Kafka and Sarah Wendy Burman as our Kallot of Torah and Bereshit, so we’d love all their students to celebrate them there with chocolate and singing.

Thursday morning, also with Sarah Wendy and Natasha, will be more solemn, as we manage Yizchor and the cycles of life and Torah.

I so look forward to seeing you there, at SPS, for our last Autumn festival.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rebecca