Simchat Torah Songs and Activities
Chag Sameiach חַג שָׂמֵחַ (happy holiday)! It was great seeing many of you this Sukkot Shabbat, shaking the lulav and celebrating together.
For today, I say, “Mo-adim l’simcha” מוֹעֲדִים לְשִׂמְחָה (joyous festivals)! This greeting is appropriate for the middle days of Sukkot. You can respond, “Chagim uzmanim l’sason” חֲגִים וּזְמַנִּים לְשָׂשׂון (festivals and seasons of joy). Listen to a song about this greeting.
I look forward to more gathering and learning with you at Simchat Torah this Friday evening!
A big thank you to the Price and Litvin families for their creative activities, organization, and hard work for the children and families during the High Holy Days!
Weekly Music and Activity Curriculum
Listen to these songs all week long—as lullabies or car music, or as background music for dancing and art activities! Integrate the activities into mealtime, nighttime preparation, or daily play and family time.
Alef-bet Song (Hebrew Alphabet)
David Melech (David, King of Israel)
This song helps children learn some basic vocabulary: kein (yes), lo (no), ima (mother), aba (father), geshem (rain), and shemesh (sun).
David Melech Yisra-eil
דָוִד מֶלֶךְ יְשׂרָאֵל
Chai, chai v’kayam (3×)
חַי חַי וְקַיָם
Ken / Lo (yes / no): כֵּן / לֹא
Ima / Aba (mother / father): אִמָא / אַבָּא
Geshem / Shemesh (rain / sun): גֶּשֶׁם / שֶׁמֶשׁ
Simchat Torah Books and Activities
On Simchat Torah, we read from the very end of the Torah and then from the very beginning—the story of creation.
Books and Audio Stories
Ages 3–5: Sammy Spider’s First Simchat Torah
Ages 5–6: Listen to a Simchat Torah story
Ages 7–11: The Patchwork Torah
Discussion Questions for Young Children (Ages 4–8)
Favorites: What is your favorite story from the Torah, or a favorite book you own? Why do you love hearing it over and over again?
Beginnings: We finish reading the very end of the Torah and immediately start reading the very first word, Beresheet (“In the beginning”). What is a new beginning you are excited about or proud of this year?
Celebration: Why do you think we dance, sing, and eat sweets to celebrate finishing a big book? How would it feel to dance with a Torah scroll that is taller than you?
Discussion Questions for Older Kids and Tweens (Ages 9–12)
Perspective: Think of a story or character you learned about when you were very little. Do you see that story differently now that you are older? What changed your mind?
Goals: Simchat Torah celebrates completing an annual journey through the entire Torah. What is a big goal you worked hard to complete this past year, and how did you celebrate it?
Connection: The Torah teaches us to celebrate together with everyone in the community. What makes celebrating with a big, noisy, diverse group of people different from celebrating alone or just at home?
Explore the Torah Scroll
Come to services to look at the ark and the Torah scrolls. Ask the cantor to take a Torah from the ark and show it to you. If you do not have a real Torah available, use a miniature one with Hebrew writing.
Look at the Torah’s beautiful cover, called a mantle. It protects the scroll. See how the Torah is rolled up and how its letters are written in a special way called calligraphy. We use a yad, a pointer shaped like a hand, to point to the words when we read the Torah.
Make Simchat Torah Flags
Make flags to use while marching with the Torah.
Make a Wearable Torah Mantle
Using an old pillowcase for each child, cut a hole for the head in the end opposite the opening and two armholes near the top of each side. Let each child decorate their mantle with a variety of materials. Wear the mantles to march with the Torahs!
Songs for Simchat Torah
Al Shlosha D’varim (C. Tzur)
Al sh’loshah d’varim
ha-olam omeid
עַל שְׁלֹשָׁה דְּבָרִים
הָעוֹלָם עוֹמֵד:
Al hatorah, v’al ha-avodah,
v’al g’milut chasadim
עַל הַתּוֹרָה, וְעַל הָעֲבוֹדָה
וְעַל גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים.
Translation: Upon three things the world stands: on Torah, on service (prayer), and on loving kindness. — Pirkei Avot 1:2
Sweet as Honey (D. Nichols)
This song includes the blessing for studying Torah. Studying Torah is supposed to be as sweet as honey!
Sweet as honey, sweet as honey, sweet as honey on our tongue
Sweet as honey, sweet as honey, sweet as honey on our tongue
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יהוה אֱלהֵינוּ מֶלֶך–הָעולָם
אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָנוּ בְּמִצְותָיו
וְצִוָּנוּ לַעֲסק בְּדִבְרֵי-תורָה.
Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam
Asher k’dishanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu
La-asok b’divrei Torah
La-asok b’divrei Torah
Sweet as honey, sweet as honey, sweet as honey on our tongue
Let us soak it up and let it all sink in
Sweet words of Torah
It’s All Good (R. Sherwin, with Sababa!)
Text: Psalm 136:1 and Genesis 1:31
Chorus:
It’s all good, it’s all good—God made it and it’s all good
We thank you, God, for the gifts you bring / For the food we eat, for the songs we sing
We thank you, God, for the earth and sky / For our family’s love as the days go by
Chorus
We thank you, God, for the night and day / For the gift of Torah that shows us the way
We thank you, God, for our Sabbath rest / For You are One, and we are blessed!
Chorus
Hodu L’adonai, L’adonai ki tov
Vayar Elohim et kol asher asah
V’hinei tov m’od
Give thanks to God, for God is good!
God saw everything that God had created, and it was good.
Once Upon a Time (Avni)
Once upon a time, it was right at the start,
And God said, “I’m gonna make light and dark.”
And God said (clap, clap), “It’s the first day,
And I did very good work today.”
Once upon a time, it was day number two.
The waters were parted, and heaven came through.
And God said (clap, clap), “It’s the second day,
And I did very good work today.”
Once upon a time, it was day number three.
The land appeared, all covered with trees.
And God said (clap, clap), “It’s the third day,
And I did very good work today.”
Once upon a time, it was day number four.
We had the sun and the moon and the stars galore.
And God said (clap, clap), “It’s the fourth day,
And I did very good work today.”
Once upon a time, it was day number five.
We had the fish in the water and the birds in the sky.
And God said (clap, clap), “It’s the fifth day,
And I did very good work today.”
Once upon a time, it was day number six.
The people and the animals were doin’ their tricks.
And God said (clap, clap), “It’s the sixth day,
And I did very good work today.”
Once upon a time, it was day number seven.
And God said, “I finished the earth and the heavens.”
And God said (clap, clap), “It’s the seventh day,
And I’m gonna rest all day today.”
“Yes,” God said (clap, clap), “It’s the seventh day.
And I’m gonna rest all day today.”