A Global Project To Unite The Jewish World and Honor The Memory Of The 1,200 Souls Lost On October 7th And The Many Hundreds Since

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Provide details about your community, and the point person for the project.

31

Countries Participating

287

Cities Participating

525

Communities Participating

635

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:

how do we move forward from such profound loss?

Can we dance?
Should we dance?

October 2024 will mark the first Simchat Torah since the devastating events of October 7, 2023. Traditionally a day of joy, dancing, and celebration, this Simchat Torah will also serve as the first yahrzeit for the 1,200 victims and a time to honor the hostages and soldiers who have passed since that day.

Now the Jewish community faces 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 will read on Sukkot, offer us guidance: “There is a time for everything under the Heavens… a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” Simchat Torah 2024 will be that time.

A Simchat Torah shared throughout the world.

Synagogues around the world will open their Aron HaKodesh (Torah Ark) on Simchat Torah night and take out several Torah scrolls. One, or more, 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.

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 – thousands of communities, with hundreds of thousands if not millions of Jews being connected through this project.

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, 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 resilience, our ability to find hope in the face of tragedy.

Over 1600 communities across the globe will unite for Israel and the Jewish people.

Frequently Asked Questions

From Argentina to Australia, from Buenos Aires to Berlin, 1,250 communities across the world have already signed up to be part of Simchat Torah Project.

What is the idea behind the Simchat Torah project?

October 7th was Simchat Torah in Israel. Over 1200 people were murdered and hundreds more were taken hostage. The Jewish people suffered our most horrific day since the Holocaust.

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

Simchat Torah is a day of joy, celebration, and hakafot- we dance – but Simchat Torah 5785 will also mark the first yahrzeit of the 1200 victims of October 7th. How do we, the Jewish people, respond? On Simchat Torah, will we dance? Should we dance? How do we commemorate this poignant and difficult anniversary?

King Solomon offers us guidance in Kohelet, which we will 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 Aron HaKodesh on Simchat Torah night and take out several Torah scrolls. One, or more, 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 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 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.

Over 1600 communities across the globe will unite for Israel and the Jewish people.

What is the cost to participate in the Simchat Torah Project?

The cost is just $1,300

How does my shul get involved?

You need to make sure your shul signs up on the website, so we can communicate with them about the Torah cover, and help them with their fundraising if needed. We have just 80 Torah covers left for this year, please register and pay by Mon 30th September, and we will be able to get it to you for SImchat Torah this year.

When is the closing date to sign up my shul?

We have just 80 Torah covers left for this year, please register and pay by Mon 30th September, and we will be able to get it to you for SImchat Torah this year.

How can individuals get involved?

You can sign up to receive updates, as well as donate to the project. Once all the communities have signed up, you can find a community to join for Simchat Torah this year!

How can we fundraise for our Torah Cover?

We are working with Charidy to allow communities to have a specific fund-raising page for their community to allow funds to more easily be raised, with a link to send to community members. You hopefully will choose to raise more than the $1,300 to allow the project to be even more impactful. Please be in touch with us if you wish to proceed.

What if we want a new Torah for this project, as well as the Torah Cover?

Please contact us at info@thesimchattorahproject.org, as soon as possible and we will put you in touch with our department dealing with either new or recovered Torah scrolls for communities. Obviously, there will be an extra cost for the Torah, which can range from $5,000 for a previously owned, repaired Torah to almost $100,000 for a new one. We will organize special discounts for those communities who are participating in the Simchat Torah Project.