Chatan Torah and Chatan Bereishit are two honorees who are called up for an aliyah during the Simchat Torah morning services.

Like many of the day’s honors, these distinctions are often auctioned off to the highest bidder (who may then choose to bestow the honor upon another congregant), with the proceeds going to support the synagogue and its activities.

Simchat Torah is essentially a celebration of the conclusion of the annual Torah reading cycle. Being called up for the final aliyah of the Torah is considered a great honor. The person who gets it is known as the Chatan Torah (or Chosson Torah), “Groom of the Torah,” and is called up in a lengthy Hebrew poem full of flowery praises for the Torah and its “groom.”

Now that the Torah has been completed, we immediately begin anew (using another Torah scroll, if the congregation has sufficient scrolls).

The person who gets the following aliyah begins the Torah. This great honor is known as the Chatan Bereishit (or Chosson Bereishis), “Groom of Genesis.” He is likewise called up in a lengthy Hebrew poem full of flowery praises.

The poem is sung in an ancient tune, similar to that commonly used for Akdamot on Shavuot and the holiday Kiddush.

Speaking of Kiddush, it is customary for the Chatan Torah and Chatan Bereishit to cosponsor a kiddush reception for the congregation on the following Shabbat to celebrate the milestone.