The High Holidays: goofiness counts, too

[ellen_kushner]

I did end up going to Simchat Torah ("rejoicing in the Torah") services at Romemu yesterday - and enjoyed every minute of it! We danced and sang in the synagogue, holding each other, holding the torah scrolls, dressed in their silver and embroidery, like a child or a lover in our arms. All that joy and ritual over a TEXT - a collection of carefully

Comments

[martianmooncrab]

similar community ceremony at WFC for LOTR and a handful of other Ur Texts!

everyone should bring their favorite book of all time..

[ellen_kushner]

That is SUCH a great idea!

Are you going to be there?

[martianmooncrab]

no, I will be at our local con that weekend.. but its still a brilliant idea..

[negothick]

You've read my mind (as usual). I made it to TWO Simchat Torah celebrations; a Reform congregation on Wednesday night and a Conservative one on Thursday. Klezmenschen, my Klezmer band, played for the Thursday evening one. Our rabbi echoed your sentiments in one of his High Holiday sermons, when he said he wished that his congregants who only showed up twice a year would choose Simchat Torah and Purim instead of one day of Rosh Hashona and Yom Kippur.

[ellen_kushner]

That is so wonderful. Ain't it awful how we'll force ourselves to be solemn, but not make the time to have the fun? I totally missed Succoth, and now I wish I hadn't.

[_stranger_here]

Thank you for this post.

[ellen_kushner]

You are most welcome.

I've been talking to a bunch of younger Jews lately who don't know a lot about the Fun Parts (and even non-Jews who are curious) - I think I'm going to have to do a post (here and on FB) about where I learned about it, for those who are interested.