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Torah Covers Being Made
A Simchat Torah
we can never forget.
On the morning of October 7, 2023, Simchat Torah, the Jewish community faced its most horrific day since the Holocaust, with over 1,200 lives cruelly taken and many more held hostage. This tragedy has bonded us in deep collective sorrow.
As the Jewish world remains united in grief, we are challenged with the difficult question:
Can we dance?
Should we dance?
October 2024 marked the first Simchat Torah since the devastating events of October 7, 2023. Traditionally a day of joy, dancing, and celebration, this Simchat Torah served as the first yahrzeit for the 1,200 victims and was a time to also honor the hostages and soldiers who have passed since that day.
The Jewish community was faced with profound questions: How should we respond? Is it possible to celebrate as we once did?
With tears in our eyes we will dance.
The words of King Solomon in Kohelet, that we read on Sukkot, offered us guidance: “There is a time for everything under the Heavens… a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” Simchat Torah 2024 was that time as it will be this year in 2025.
A Simchat Torah shared throughout the world.
Synagogues around the world opened their Aron HaKodesh (Torah Ark) last Simchat Torah night and took out several Torah scrolls. One, or more, was adorned with a new me’il (Torah cover), designed to mark the first yahrzeit of October 7th. This me’il was identical to the ones that was created for over 500 synagogues across the world. This beautifully designed me’il proclaimed that this Torah was dedicated in memory of the 1200 souls and the many soldiers and hostages who have since died, Al Kiddush Hashem.
SIMCHAT TORAH 2025
This year we need to go further, there are still over 1000 names of the those of who were murdered on October 7th as well as the soldiers and hostages that have been killed since. Last Simchat Torah we collectively remembered over 600 kedoshim, this year, let us remember them all.
Every Single Soul is an Entire Torah
Each Torah me'il will feature the name of one of the kedoshim (holy souls/victims) embroidered onto it. Communities around the world will dance with these Torah scrolls this Simchat Torah – thousands of communities, with hundreds of thousands if not millions of Jews being connected through this project. Last year over 500 shuls in 31 countries joined this holy project– this year let us involve hundreds more – to remember them all – and dance with 1800 Torah Covers with tears in our eyes.
Each me’il (Torah cover) is embroidered with the flag of Israel along with the Pasuk from Kohelet, “There is a time to mourn, and a time to dance”
The Front of the me’il (Torah cover) for both Ashkenazi and Sephardi Torahs
The Back is embroidered with the name of one of the souls of the many soldiers and hostages who have died, Al Kiddush Hashem since the events of October 7th.
United in sorrow.
United in celebration.
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 2023, and 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 two years ago, but we are determined to dispel the darkness with light.”
This project will symbolize the Jewish People’s continued resilience, our ability to find hope in the face of tragedy.
We hope and pray that approximately 1800 communities across the globe will unite for Israel and the Jewish people.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the idea behind the Simchat Torah project? 
This October will mark the second Simchat Torah since the horrific events of October 7th.
Simchat Torah is a day of joy, celebration, and hakafot- we dance – but Simchat Torah 2024 also marked the first yahrzeit of the 1200 victims of October 7th. How did we, the Jewish people, respond? On Simchat Torah 2024, did we dance? Should we have danced? How did we commemorate this poignant and difficult anniversary?
King Solomon offers us guidance in Kohelet, which we 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 opened their Aron HaKodesh (Torah Ark) last Simchat Torah night and took out several Torah scrolls. One, or more, was adorned with a new me’il (Torah cover), designed to mark the first yahrzeit of October 7th. This me’il was be identical to the ones that were created for over 500 synagogues across the world. This beautifully designed me’il proclaimed 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 featured the name of one of the kedoshim embroidered onto it. Communities around the world danced with these Torah scrolls – hundreds of communities, with hundreds of thousands if not millions of Jews who were 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 2023, and 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 continued resilience, our ability to find hope in the face of tragedy. This year we aim to continue remembering the kedoshim by bringing even more communities to be a part of the Simchat Torah Project.
This project will continue to symbolize the Jewish People’s resilience, our ability to find hope in the face of tragedy.
We hope and pray that 1800 communities across the globe will unite for Israel and the Jewish people.
What is the cost to participate in the Simchat Torah Project?
If you wish to have a specific name on your Torah cover and a specific size – the cost is $1250
How does my shul get involved?
When is the closing date to sign up my shul?
What if we want a new Torah for this project, as well as the Torah Cover?
