Dear Friends,
Some dates need no explanation. October 7th has become one of them. Those two words carry grief, horror, courage, and an ongoing ache that belongs to the entire Jewish people. But there is another name for the day on which that tragedy occurred: Simchas Torah. October 7th tells us when it happened on the secular calendar. Simchas Torah tells us where it struck in our Jewish lives. In Jewish tradition, we mark our holidays and the anniversaries of our loved ones’ passing by the Hebrew calendar. Those dates connect remembrance to the rhythm of Jewish life. Simchas Torah is therefore a particularly meaningful and appropriate time to remember those taken from us that day and in the days that followed. And how do we remember? With prayer. With reverence. With an awareness that behind every name is a whole world: a family, a story, a future that should have been. On Simchas Torah, we also remember by coming together. By holding the Torah close. By joining the circle. By demonstrating the unity, joy, and resilience that have carried our people through generations. But what if you don’t feel ready to dance? Then dance as you are. Come with your joy, or with your heart still aching. Come with gratitude, questions, hope, or uncertainty. You do not have to resolve everything you are feeling before you can take someone’s hand and join the circle. Dancing does not erase grief. Sometimes, it gives grief somewhere to go. We carry the memory of those we have lost into the circle with us, affirming that Jewish life will continue—with faith, with love, and with joy. At Boca Beach Chabad, we will dedicate a hakafah to those who served in the IDF, honoring their courage and commitment to protecting our people. We will also dedicate a hakafah to the memory of those taken from us on October 7th and thereafter. Their memory will be present as we dance, and their families will be in our hearts. This celebration culminates an extraordinary beginning to 5787. The large crowds, uplifting High Holiday services, heartfelt prayers, and powerful singing filled our shul with energy and inspiration. Beautiful Sukkos dinners and lunches, conversations beneath the schach, and community gatherings have carried that spirit forward. We are off to a flying start. Now comes Simchas Torah, when all that connection becomes a dance. We dance with the Torah covered. Our differences in knowledge and observance give way to something we share equally: the Torah belongs to every Jew, and every Jew belongs in the circle. As You Are is the heart of Boca Beach Chabad. On Simchas Torah, that welcome becomes an invitation to move your feet, lift your spirits, and discover the strength of being together. Join us Saturday night and Sunday. Come to remember. Come to honor. Come to celebrate. Dance As You Are. The circle is waiting for you. Chag Sameach and Good Yom Tov, Rabbi Ruvi New