Israel to Mark October 7th Massacre During Simchat Torah Holiday

Israel will observe two memorial days for the October 7th massacre: a state memorial on October 5th and a public memorial on October 7th, organized by families of victims and hostages. However, the article argues that the true memorial day is Simchat Torah, the eighth day of Sukkot, which falls on October 7th this year. The author reflects on the collective trauma of that day, when news of the Hamas attack interrupted holiday celebrations and young men were called to war.

While religious and state officials may find it inconvenient to hold memorial ceremonies on a holiday, the article suggests ways to incorporate remembrance into Simchat Torah itself. It references the ancient Ashkenazi custom of reciting Yizkor (a memorial prayer for the deceased) on holidays, a practice that arose from the trauma of the Crusades. The author proposes reciting a special Yizkor prayer for the October 7th victims, composed by Rabbi Benny Holtzman, alongside existing prayers for Holocaust victims and fallen soldiers.

Furthermore, the article draws parallels to historical instances where deep sorrow was expressed during Simchat Torah. It mentions Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, who sang a verse of vengeance after the 1929 Hebron massacres, and a custom that emerged after the 2008 Merkaz Harav Yeshiva shooting, where a specific verse is sung at the start of the sixth Torah scroll reading (hakafah). The author suggests dedicating the sixth hakafah on Simchat Torah to the memory of the October 7th victims, using quiet, devotional songs that express concern for the Jewish people and mutual responsibility.

The article emphasizes the intrinsic connection between the Jewish people and the Torah, stating that when the people suffer, the Torah also suffers, and Simchat Torah cannot be fully joyous. It concludes by urging Jewish communities worldwide and their leaders to adopt these methods of commemorating the October 7th events on the holiday itself.