A historical, halachic and cultural exploration of women's celebration of Simchas Torah. Through a poll of women's experiences, a deep dive into relevant halachic and historical sources, and an analysis of Rabbi Shlomo Riskin's visit to the Lubavitcher Rebbe asking if the women of his community could dance with the Torah, we explore questions like:

Is Simchas Torah a “men’s holiday”? Is there an essential difference between men and women’s relationship to this day? How did the custom to dance with the Torah develop? Can women dance with the Torah? Should women dance at all?

Join us in exploring women's relationship to this joyful, celebratory holiday.

Sources:

The Diary of Samuel Pepys, entry for October 14, 1663

"Law as Love" by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks

Shlomo Riskin, Listening to G-d (New Milford, CT: Maggid, 2010), pp.193-96

Lubavitcher Rebbe's letter to Rabbi Shlomo Riskin, 13 Kislev 1976

Rambam Hilchot Shofar V'sukka V'lulav 8:14

Chemdat Yamim III Sukka 8

"Dancing With the Torah" by Laurie Novick

R. Moshe Meiselman, Jewish Woman in Jewish Law (New York, 1978)

Shulchan Aruch OC 88

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TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction: Why We're Exploring This Topic

02:49 What Simchas Torah Means to Me

05:24 Poll Results on Women's Experiences of Simchas Torah

7:00 Is There an Essential Difference Between Men and Women's Relationship to Dancing on Simchas Torah?

9:39 Participating Through Watching

10:32 Being a Bystander

11:18 The Pain of Alienation

13:39 Why Do Women Dance?

14:40 What Motivates Women's Desire to Dance With the Torah?

17:20 When Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Went to Ask the Lubavitcher Rebbe's Advice

21:18 The Lubavitcher Rebbe's Retraction

23:50 When Samuel Pepys Visited a Synagogue in 1663

25:30 The Evolution of the Tradition of Dancing

29:11 What is the Barrier to Women Dancing with the Torah?

31:10 Diversity of Rabbinic Perspectives on the Topic

32:40 Exploring the Custom Women Took Upon Themselves Not to Touch the Torah

39:15 Recognizing the Nuances of this Topic

41:30 Women Yearning to Dance with the Torah

43:55 Cultural Impact of Each Woman's Experience

45:00 Ensuring a Vibrant Women's Section

47:00 Simchas Torah Belongs to the Entire Jewish People