Rabbinic Reflection: Rabbi Eliza McCarroll

We are taught in Proverbs: Etz chayim hi, lamachazikim bah – “Torah is a tree of life to those who hold fast to it, and all of its supporters are happy”. 

As such, almost nothing makes me happier than this time of year, Z’man Simchateinu, the time of our rejoicing as we find ourselves in the middle of Sukkot and Simchat Torah.  

One of our Holy Blossom traditions around Simchat Torah is the celebration of Consecration. Our Grade 1 students will receive their baby Torahs, as well as loving blessings from their parents, clergy, and teachers. With their parents, they learned about this meaningful milestone event this past Sunday, including an interactive, up-close “Torah Tour”. Their faces completely lit up, and their questions were completely gorgeous (photo below). What could make a rabbi happier than that? 

Our Grade 1s and their families will then lead our congregation for the first hakafah during our Simchat Torah revelry this coming Saturday evening. 

There is a reason that our Midrash (on the Song of Songs) teaches us that children were specifically chosen as the guarantors for God’s gift of Torah as it was revealed to our People at Sinai. 

From generation to generation, we will dance with our Torah scrolls, and end our Torah reading with Deuteronomy and begin again with Bereishit. We will rejoice with lively music and delicious desserts, and take pride in our Consecrands as we witness firsthand that the Jewish future is bright and enduring. 

I would also be remiss not to mention that today, September 30, is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. 

Additionally, in our own broken world, from Belleville to Dubai, now more than ever our souls need the uplift, and we need to be guided by, and reminded of, Torah’s words and wisdom; to be grounded by who we are all and all we love about our Jewish heritage, and the types of people Torah compels us to be.  

Etz chayim hi – Torah is our Tree of Life. So may it lead us on paths of truth, wisdom, and joy; in turn, may we find happiness in its midst. 

Join us as we celebrate Torah this Saturday evening, October 3rd, at 7:00 pm. Moadim L’simcha!