| Friday | Tishrei 23, Simchat Torah | 5704 |
| We do not read the Torah at night. Blessing by the kohanim at Shacharit. We do not have the custom to spread a tallit over the heads of the chatan Torah and chatan Bereishit. The one called to the Torah also1 says chazak chazak venitchazeik. | ||
| Torah lessons: | Chumash: B'racha, Shishi and Shevi'i with Rashi. | |
| Tehillim: 108-112. | ||
| Tanya: XXIV. My beloved, (p. 531) ...apparent to all. (p. 533). | ||
On Simchat Torah 5540 (1779) the Alter Rebbe said:
It is a tree of life for those who hold fast to it - this refers to people of intellect who study Torah. ...and those who support it are fortunate2 - these are the people of avoda (davening) who occupy themselves with Torah.
They are fortunate (me'ushar) as the Zohar (III 53b) interprets: Do not read the word as me'ushar but (through a transposition of letters) as meirosho, "from his head." Through their avoda they call forth (the spiritual level of) "His head," the inwardness of the En Sof.
This is similar to the unique quality of the foot which provides the support of the head.
