Isaiah 11:3 - “You will say on that day, ‘I thank You, Hashem, for you were angry with me, and now Your wrath has subsided and You have comforted me. Behold, G-d is my salvation; I shall trust and not fear. For G-d is my might and my praise – HaShem! – and He is a salvation for me.’
You can draw water with joy from the spring of salvation. And you will say on that day, ‘Give thanks to Hashem; declare His Name, make His acts known among the peoples; declare that His Name is exalted. Make music for Hashem, for He has acted with grandeur; make this known throughout the world.”
I’Chaim weekly – “One of the most joyful celebrations in Israel was the Drawing of the Water during Sukkot. The Sages noted that "Whoever never witnessed the Simchat Beit Hashoeva has never in his life seen true joy." They have left us wonderful descriptions of the scenes that inspire us with longing to witness it once again.
How was the ceremony conducted? A golden container was filled with water drawn from the pools at Siloam in Jerusalem. When the water carriers reached the Water Gate, they blew three notes on the shofar.
On the right side of the ramp leading to the altar, there were two silver bowls, each with a hole shaped like a narrow spout, one wider than the other. One bowl stood to the east and the other to the west. The shapes of the bowls allowed them to be emptied simultaneously. (The wider spouted bowl held wine, which flows more slowly than water.)
Celebrating the “Simchat
Beit Hashoeva” at the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva in Jerusalem
As the evenings of the festival approached, the people made their way down to the Court of the Women. There were golden candlesticks, fifty cubits high, with four gold bowls atop them. Four ladders led to the top of each candlestick, and four young kohanim mounted the ladders, holding in their hands large jars of oil which they poured into the golden bowls. Wicks to light the oil were made from worn-out clothing of the kohanim, and when the candlesticks were lit, the light glowed throughout the entire city of Jerusalem.
Simchat Beit Ha'Shoeva at Mercaz Harav
The
greatest Sages and Tzaddikim would participate joyfully in the celebration,
performing the most extraordinary feats. Some of them would bear burning
torches in their hands while singing Psalms and other praises of G-d. The Levites
would play many various musical instruments, including harps, lyres, cymbals,
and trumpets as they stood on the fifteen steps which led down from the Court
of Women in the Holy Temple.
Ultra Orthodox Jewish men dance and celebrate Simchat Torah at the close of the Succot holiday at the Yeshiva of Toldos Avrohom Yitzchok in Mea Shearim in Jerusalem, Israel. Simchat Torah celebrates the ending of one cycle and the beginning of the new cycle of reading the Torah, the Jewish holy scrolls used in every synagogue.
Two kohanim were stationed at the Upper Gate of the Temple, holding trumpets in their hands. As the roosters crowed the first light of dawn, they blasted their trumpets, and as they ascended the steps, they blew two additional rounds of tekiah's. They continued walking until they reached the gate which led to the east, whereupon they turned to face the west and uttered the words: "We belong to G-d and our eyes are turned to G-d."
The Sages relate that when the great Sage, Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel rejoiced at the water festival, he would juggle with eight lighted torches, tossing them into the air, catching one and then throwing another, so that they never touched each other. He would also prostrate himself on the ground, bend down, doing a head-stand, kiss the ground and draw himself up again, a feat which no one else could do.
The Ancient Rebbes
dancing with the Torah Scrolls on Simchat Torah on the 7th day of
Succot
The Talmud relates many of these displays of prowess which the Sages performed at the Simchat Beit Hashoeva. They record that Reb Levi used to juggle in the presence of Rabbi Yehuda HaNassi with eight knives. Shmuel would do the same with eight glasses of wine, without spilling any of their contents. Rabbi Abaye would juggle before Rabbi Rabba with eight (or some say, four) eggs.
It is written in the name of Rabbi ben Chanania, "When we used to rejoice at the place of the water-drawing, our eyes saw no sleep." It is explained that the entire day was occupied with holy activities, so that the participants in the Simcha were busy from day to night.
In the morning the sacrifice was brought, followed by prayers, and then an additional sacrifice. Then they would study Torah and eat breakfast. Afternoon prayer was following by the evening sacrifice and then the water-drawing festivities commenced. The celebration of the Simchat Beit Hashoeva continued throughout the entire night, lighting up the city so brilliantly that there was
no courtyard in Jerusalem which didn't reflect the light of the great candlesticks which illumined the Festival of the Water-Drawing.”
Credit to L’Chaim – “The Water Drawing
Ceremony”
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Even though the prophets of Israel have given the message to the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel that they will be redeemed, are we willing to accept this offer? Are we willing to repent of our rebellion and return in loving harmony to live with our brothers; the Jews of the House of Judah?
That is why it is important to understand more about Rabbinic Judaism, the Feasts and its Biblical Mandate and support them as they preserve the Mountains of Israel in Shomron for the return of the Lost Tribes of Israel. If this is your quest, Contact “Kol Ha Tor”,the Voice of the Turtledove.
Here is a joint Orthodox Jewish and 10-Triber Mission to bring awareness of theimminent fulfillment of the Biblical Prophecies regarding of all Israel (12 Tribes Re-conciled and Re-United). This super Event of all Times will entail Establishing theShomron (the Ancient Bible Heartland of the Patriarchs) and the Judean Wilderness as part of the Land of Israel, and preparing the “Land” for the Return of the Lost Tribes of the House of Israel and then the Redemption of All Israel.
For inquiries about Kol Ha Tor Ministries for the Lost Tribes of Israel, Visit – “Shomron Lives!”, a Spiritual Retreat and Guest House.
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