A year has passed since I stopped the hakafot - dancing around the bima with the Torah scrolls on Simchat Torah, in order to address hundreds of children: I teach a small lesson, tell a story and sing with them, and at the end, they receive a bag of sweets.
In the middle of the lesson, one of our security personnel approached me and said, "Rabbi, a war has broken out." To announce to the public that a war has broken out is a great responsibility. "How do you know that a war has broken out?" I asked him. And he answered: "Rabbi, there are 32 hostages."
It was hard to believe. Suddenly a member of the community comes to me and says: "Rabbi, I'm going to war, and I want a blessing." Then comes another and another. Dozens of people, young people and even middle-aged people. Now I understand - a war has broken out! About a hundred people were recruited from the community that day. Six of them did not return.
During the past year I have visited many wounded people. I was a partner in crying, a partner in pain. I also saw strength: tremendous strength of our wonderful soldiers, the strength of citizens who risked their lives and sometimes paid the price of their own lives to save other Jews; the strength of soldiers' wives, of parents and families; the strength of bereaved families; the strengths of the residents of the north and south, who have been away from their homes for a year.
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Second Hakafot after the end of the Simchat Torah holiday in Tel Aviv
(Photo: Tal Shahar)
The war is not only on the battlefield. The war is also on the home front. The enemies are trying in every way to disrupt our lives, to sow fear and panic among us, to cause division in our people and to shut down all joy in our country. We will not let them win! We will continue to live happily in our country. Although, at all times, we will remember the injured and fallen soldiers, those who were murdered on the day of the invasion, the kidnapped and their families, and those evacuated from their homes in the north and south of the country. We will remember them, think about them and pray for them. We will also pray for unity within Israel, and we will remember that our strength is in our unity.
To start: Complete a tractate of the Talmud or the Tanach
I suggest that for Simchat Torah each community distribute study passages of the Bible or the Talmud. On the night of Simchat Torah, we will open with a community siyum, or completion of a unit of Torah study, for these dear people.
אני מציע שלקראת שמחת תורה, כל קהילה תחלק קטעי לימוד של תנ"ך או משנה או דבר אחר. בליל שמחת תורה, נפתח בסיום קהילתי, עבור האנשים היקרים הללו.
נפתח את הסיום ביהי רצון:
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ, שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לִמּוּדֵנוּ זֶה
לְעִלּוּי נִשְׁמַת הַקְּדוֹשִׁים שֶׁנֶּהֶרְגוּ וְשֶׁנִּרְצְחוּ,
לַהֲשָׁבַת הַחֲטוּפִים בִּמְהֵרָה בְּרִיאִים וּשְׁלֵמִים,
לִרְפוּאַת הַפְּצוּעִים, לַהֲשָׁבַת כָּל עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל לְבָתֵּיהֶם,
לְחִזּוּק הַמִּשְׁפָּחוֹת הַשַּׁכּוּלוֹת וּלְאַחְדוּת עִם יִשְׂרָאֵל.
Let's start the siyum with a Yehi Ratzon (May it be G-d's will) prayer:
May it be your will, O our God, that this learning will be
for the ascension of the souls of the martyrs who were killed and who were murdered,
for the quick return of the hostages safe and sound,
for the healing of the injured, for the return of all the people of Israel to their homes,
To support the bereaved families and for unity with Israel.
Hakafot
Each hakafah will be dedicated to a particular group, and we will start by blessing them. Sometimes the hakafah will be quiet, with quiet songs, and sometimes with lively songs. Sometimes a combination of songs. Each community should go through and identify songs that suit them, or add other songs. Start each hakafah by announcing the group it recognizes, then recite the blessing, and then say the usual passages that are recited for the particular hakafah.
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Esther Liebstein at dedication of Torah scroll in memory of her son, Ofir, mayor of the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council, who was killed on Oct. 7
(Photo: Isabel Digilov)
Hakafah 1 - For the soldiers and the security forces
מי שברך לחיילי צה"ל ולכוחות הביטחון
מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶת חַיָּלֵי צְבָא הֲגַנָּה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וְכוֹחוֹת הַבִּטָּחוֹן, הָעוֹמְדִים עַל מִשְׁמַר אַרְצֵנוּ וְעָרֵי אֱלהֵינוּ. יִתֵּן יי אֶת אוֹיְבֵינוּ הַקָּמִים עָלֵינוּ נִגָּפִים לִפְנֵיהֶם. הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יִשְׁמְרֵם וְיַצִּילֵם מִכָּל צָרָה וְצוּקָה וּמִכָּל נֶגַע וּמַחֲלָה וְיִשְׁלַח בְּרָכָה וְהַצְלָחָה בְּכָל מַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵיהֶם. וִיקֻיַּם בָּהֶם הַכָּתוּב: כִּי יי אֱ-לֹהֵיכֶם הַהֹלֵךְ עִמָּכֶם לְהִלָּחֵם לָכֶם עִם איבֵיכֶם לְהוֹשִׁיעַ אֶתְכֶם: וְנאמַר אָמֵן.
Blessing for the soldiers of the IDF and the security forces
May the one who blessed our ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob bless the soldiers of Israel's defense army and the security forces, who stand guard over our land and the cities of our God. May our enemies who rise up against us be put down. The Holy One, blessed be He, will protect and save them from every trouble and distress and from every blemish and disease and will send blessing and success in every deed of their hands. And the scripture will be fulfilled in them: For it is your God who goes with you to fight for you with your enemies to save you: and it is said, Amen.
Hakafah 2 - For the return of the hostages (this is a quiet hakafah with slow songs)
מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב יוֹסֵף מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן דָּוִד וּשְׁלֹמֹה, אִמּוֹתֵנוּ שָׂרָה, רִבְקָה, רָחֵל וְלֵאָה, הוּא יְבָרֵךְ וְיִשְׁמֹר וְיִנְצֹר אֶת אֲחֵינוּ בֵּית יִשְֹרָאֵל הַשְּׁבוּיִים וְהַחֲטוּפִים, בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁאָנוּ מִתְפַּלְּלִים בַּעֲבוּרָם. הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יִמָּלֵא רַחֲמִים עֲלֵיהֶם, וְיִשְׁמְרֵם מִכָּל צָרָה וְצוּקָה וּמִכָּל נֶגַע וּמַחֲלָה, יוֹצִיאֵם מֵחֹשֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָוֶת וִישִׁיבֵם מְהֵרָה לְחֵיק מִשְׁפְּחוֹתֵיהֶם, וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן.
May he who blessed our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Moses and Aaron, David and Solomon, our mothers Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah, bless and preserve and protect my brothers the hostages and and pray for them. The Holy One, blessed be He, will fill them with his mercy, and protect them from every trouble and affliction and from every affliction and disease, bring them out of darkness and darkness and return them quickly to the bosom of their families, and it is said, Amen.
Hakafah 3 - For the healing of the wounded
מִי שֶׁבֵּרַךְ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אַבְרָהָם יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן דָּוִד וּשְׁלֹמֹה, אִמּוֹתֵנוּ שָׂרָה, רִבְקָה, רָחֵל וְלֵאָה, הוּא יְבָרֵךְ וִירַפֵּא אֶת כָּל הַפְּצוּעִים בַּמַּעֲרָכָה. הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יִמָּלֵּא רַחֲמִים עֲלֵיהֶם לְהַחֲלִימָם וּלְרַפְּאֹתָם וּלְהַחֲזִיקָם וּלְהַחֲיוֹתָם, וְיִשְׁלַח לָהֶם מְהֵרָה רְפוּאָה שְׁלֵמָה מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם לְכָל אֶבְרֵיהֶם וּלְכָל גִּידֵיהֶם בְּתוֹךְ שְׁאָר חוֹלֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, רְפוּאַת הַנֶּפֶשׁ וּרְפוּאַת הַגּוּף, הַשְׁתָּא בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב. וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן:
May he who blessed our ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses and Aaron, David and Solomon, our mothers Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah, bless and heal all the wounded. The Holy One, blessed be He, will fill them with mercy to heal them and to keep them alive, and will send them speedy and complete healing from heaven. And will soon bring healing of the limbs and all their sinews, the healing of the soul and the healing of the body, and it is said: Amen.
Hakafah 4 - for the wives of the soldiers, the heroes for the families of the soldiers and the female soldiers
יְהִי רָצוֹן, שֶׁבִּזְכוּת הַשְּׁלִיחוּת שֶׁל מִשְׁפְּחוֹת הַחַיָּלִים לְעַם יִשְׂרָאֵל, יִתֵּן ה' לָהֶם כּוֹחַ וְשִׂמְחָה, בְּרָכָה וְהַצְלָחָה, זוּגִיּוּת טוֹבָה, פַּרְנָסָה טוֹבָה וּבְרִיאוּת אֵיתָנָה.
May God grant them strength and joy, blessing and success, good marriage, good livelihood and health
Hakafah 5 - for unity with the people of Israel and our brothers of the House of Israel in exile, who are facing antisemitism
אַדְּרַבָּא, תֵּן בְּלִבֵּנוּ,
שֶׁנִּרְאֶה כָּל אֶחָד מַעֲלַת חֲבֵרֵינוּ וְלא חֶסְרוֹנָם,
וְשֶׁנְּדַבֵּר כָּל אֶחָד אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ בַּדֶּרֶךְ הַיָּשָׁר וְהָרָצוּי לְפָנֶיךָ,
וְאַל יַעֲלֶה שׁוּם שִׂנְאָה מֵאֶחָד עַל חֲבֵרוֹ חָלִילָה.
וְתִטַּע אַחְדוּת וְאַהֲבָה בְּתוֹכֵנוּ,
וְנֹאמַר אָמֵן.
Put within our hearts,
that we may see the virtue of our friends and not their shortcomings,
and that each one should speak to his friend in a straightforward and pleasing way before you,
And let no hatred arise from one person against his friend.
and plant unity and love in our midst,
And it is said, Amen.
Hakafah 6 - to lift up the souls of the murdered, and to strengthen the widows, orphans and bereaved families
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה' אֱלֹקֵינוּ, שֶׁתִּתֵּן יָד וָשֵׁם לְכָל הַקְּדוֹשִׁים שֶׁנֶּהֶרְגוּ וְשֶׁנִּרְצְחוּ, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהַמְשִׁיךְ אֶת הַדְּבָרִים הַטּוֹבִים שֶׁהָיוּ פּוֹעֲלִים בָּעוֹלָם. תֵּן בְּרָכָה וְשִׂמְחָה לָאַלְמָנוֹת, לַיְּתוֹמִים וְלִבְנֵי הַמִּשְׁפָּחָה, וּנְקֹם נִקְמַת דַּם עֲבָדֶיךָ הַשָּׁפוּךְ.
May it be your will, O our God, that you give a memorial to all those who were killed and martyred, who were privileged to do good things in this world. Give blessing and joy to the widows, the orphans and the children of the family, and avenge the spilled blood of your servants.
Hakafah 7 - for the return of the evacuees to their homes, for the victory of the people of Israel in the war and for bringing the Messiah speedily
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ, שֶׁנַּכְרִיעַ אֶת הָאוֹיֵב, נְנַצֵּחַ אוֹתוֹ וּנְמַגֵּר אוֹתוֹ, שֶׁיָּשׁוּבוּ כָּל הַמְּפֻנִּים לְבָתֵּיהֶם בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבְבִטְחָה, וְשֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לִרְאוֹת בְּשִׂמְחַת צִיּוֹן וִירוּשָׁלַיִם, בְּבִיאַת מְשִׁיחַ צִדְקֵנוּ וּבְבִנְיַן בֵּית מִקְדָּשֵׁנוּ בִּמְהֵרָה בְּיָמֵינוּ, אָמֵן.
May it be your will that we defeat the enemy, end him and destroy him, that all the evacuees return to their homes in joy and safety, and that we are privileged to see, for the sake of Zion and Jerusalem, the coming of Messiah and the building of our temple speedily in our day, Amen.
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Calling children up to the Torah on Simchat Torah
(Photo: Meunierd / Shutterstock.com)
Calling the children to the Torah
There has been a beautiful initiative in some communities to create a large tallit, with a special inscription for all the groups of people we recall during the hakafot. We tell the children gathered that God especially hears the prayer of children, and sing together "Acheinu Kol Beit Yisrael" ("For our brothers and sisters, the House of Israel) for the soldiers, the kidnapped and the wounded.
Yizkor (The memorial prayer)
At the end of the Yizkor, the memorial prayer, bring everyone back into the sanctuary, and say a special prayer for the Iron Swords war by IDF Chief Military Cantor Lt. Col. Shay Abramson:
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special prayer for the Iron Swords war by IDF Chief Military Cantor Lt. Col. Shay Abramson
Before saying 'Av Harachamim' (Father of Mercy) prayer
אבינו שבשמים, נקום נקמת דם עבדיך השפוך, גם במלחמה הזו.
וכדאי שכל הקהל יאמר יחד, בקול אחד ובנחת, תפילת אב הרחמים.
Our Father in heaven, we will avenge the spilled blood of your servants, even in this war.
And the whole congregation should say together, with one voice and calmly, the prayer of the Father of Mercy.
Closing a circle?
Soldiers on the battlefield wrote a Torah scroll. There was great excitement. Everyone danced and rejoiced. I was told by a soldier who was there that suddenly a religious soldier stood up and said: "I am really excited. I feel a circle closing. On Simchat Torah, I had to stop in the middle of the hakafot and go to the battlefield. Now, I complete a circle and continue to dance with the Torah."
One soldier, who is not religious, said "there is no closing of the circle here." There was a feeling of uneasiness all around. Then the soldier explained: "I'm not a religious person. I don't go to synagogue. I've never been to Simchat Torah. In Simchat Torah, you danced with the Torah, and in the middle of the hakafot you went out to the battlefield. I didn't dance. Now, we all dance together. There is no closing of a circle here, but the opening of a new circle."
May we succeed in opening new circles, with unity, security, faith, peace and tranquility.
- Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Rimon is the Rosh Yeshiva of the Jerusalem College of Technology, President of the World Mizrachi Movement, head of the "Sulamot" association and the Chief Rabbi of Gush Etzion
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