If you joined us this past Monday evening for Simchat Torah, you may have wondered - what’s there to dance about? Dancing doesn’t seem to be an appropriate way of marking the conclusion of the yearly Torah study cycle. Wouldn’t a special evening of Torah study be more appropriate than dancing? The Torah is not even opened, we dance with it wrapped in its mantle and don’t even open it!
Torah has many dimensions. It has a limited number of verses that can be studied and mastered but it’s very essence is unlimited. G-d's infinite wisdom is contained in the Torah and we cannot connect to this G-dly core through intellect – our brains are too limited. So we dance, we reach beyond our intellectual limitations.
Traditional Jewish dancing involves a group – everyone dances together; the emphasis is on the group, not the individual. When we study Torah there are various levels, some are smarter and more knowledgeable, others less so. Dancing, on the other hand, unifies us and equalizes us, highlighting the essential bond to the Torah that we all share equally.
As we begin the new cycle of Torah study, please be sure to claim your share! Join us for one of our many ongoing classes or courses. To begin with tomorrow morning at 9:30 and coming up soon our new course: The Kabbalah of You: A Guide to Unlocking Your Hidden Potential.