Atah Hareita is the name commonly used to describe a special prayer, recited responsively in Jewish communities right before the Hakafot of Simchat Torah. It begins with the verse “You have been shown, in order to know that the L-rd, He is G‑d, there is none else besides Him.”1 In Hebrew, this verse begins with the words “atah hareita” (אַתָּה הָרְאֵתָ, also pronounced “atoh horaiso”), so the entire prayer has become known by that phrase.
What Is the Source for Saying Atah Hareita?
The custom of saying specific verses before bringing out the Sefer Torah is not limited to Simchat Torah. Every Shabbat, we recite verses before bringing out the Torah, including the verse that begins “atah hareita.” These are verses that speak about the glory of the Torah or were said about the Giving of the Torah.2 On Simchat Torah, however, the custom is to recite many more verses and to recite them responsively.3
How Is It Done?
In many communities, including Chabad, the custom is to parcel out the verses to members of the congregation. Each verse is assigned to one person to recite, with the rest of the congregation repeating it in response. In some synagogues, the honor of leading the congregation in the recitation of a verse is auctioned off.4
On Simchat Torah, the entire litany of verses is recited responsively before the Torah scrolls are removed from the Ark for the Hakafot. The Chabad custom5 is to recite all of the verses three times, and then to add a verse detailing the promise that G‑d gave Abraham, assuring him that his descendants would become as numerous as the dust of the earth.6
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