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Should We Cry Or Should We Dance?

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Should We Cry Or Should We Dance?

The Jewish anniversary of Oct. 7 is Simchat Torah. How do you celebrate Simchat Torah on the anniversary of a massacre?
See Also: One Year Stronger
How Should We Commemorate a Simchat Torah Massacre?
Topics: Betar, Fall of, Simchat Torah, Gaza War (2023-2024), Israel
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David Harold Chester Petach Tikva, Israel October 22, 2024

From this explanation one might suppose that there is no place for sadness and mourning at all within our faith. Yet we know this not to be true and particularly the loss of the Holy Temple is mourned on the ninth of the month of OV. Because of this and the slaughter of our fellow Jews on 7th October, I cannot give myself to celebrate Simchat Torah this year. Perhaps in a few years time the dismay from this massacre will pass, but it has not done so for Tiisha beOV. Reply

Norman Hauptman Yonkers NY Earth October 21, 2024

Celebrate Simchas Torah by affirming …

1. Thank You G-D for creating me in Your
Image.
2. Thank You G-D for creating me as a Jew.
3. Thank You G-D for your Torah to learn how to fulfill Your intent & instructions. Reply

Esther Beckwith Victor, Montana, USA October 8, 2024

Thank you for sharing this with us. G-d has a remenant of Torah believers that will continue will build on what was first started. Reply

Ellia Los Angeles October 7, 2024

I did both, at age 70, stressed out to the max over the dire situation. Am Israel Chai ve kai yam. Bibi is making every effort to free the hostages without compromise.
Abraham sworn deed of inheritance exclusively for Jews Homeland. Reply

Yael NJ October 6, 2024

This is a beautiful, beautiful piece.
Also, there is definitely place for mourning in Judaism. The Jews taught the world about mourning. Before Avraham wept and mourned for Sara, his wife, no one did. They just went on.
However, there are certain times for certain things. For example, someone lost a precious, teenage daughter on Rosh Chodesh, the first of the month, considered a happy time when there are no eulogies at the funeral, only words of repentance.
The mother desperately wanted eulogies at the funeral. Her rabbi (who was extremely close with the family through the long illness) explained that not having eulogies would give her daughter in heaven tremendous pleasure for her keeping the halacha.
This was extremely hard for the mother but she did it for her daughter. At the Shloshim, the 30 day mark, they had eulogies.
We do have different times for different things in Judaism. It's not always easy to "walk into" the time space of the Jewish calendar but we Jews try our best. Reply

Bubby Michigan October 6, 2024

Thank you. So many Jewish organizations are calling October 7 as the day of memorial. Since when do Jewish people have a tradition of observing the secular date as the yahrzeit? October 7 this year is actually the yahrzeit of Rabbi Akiva who gave his life by being killed by enemies because he was Jewish. May Hashem avenge his blood and the blood of all those murdered last year, on Shmini Aseres and those murdered by our enemies since then. We want Moshiach now. Reply

Ben Moses NYC October 5, 2024

I think there is a point that is important to emphasize:
Part of the plan of our haters was to take our happiest day and to turn it into the saddest day.
If we do become sad, then, in a sense, WE DO WHAT THEY WANT - and we are giving them victory.
And this is something I can promise you:
THEY WILL NEVER WIN. Reply

Hannah Zhang Llanfyllin October 6, 2024
in response to Ben Moses :

Amen, Ben! Reply

In Tears September 29, 2024

I'm in tears. Reply

In Tears Hi October 1, 2024
in response to In Tears:

Same!! Reply

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