Torah Pride--Celebrating Simchat Torah:
An easy and fun pin to make to celebrate Jewish pride at the end of Sukkot.
By Jill Suzanne Jacobs
Simchat Torah is the holiday during which we focus on our love of Torah and our pride in being Jewish. If there were only one holiday that a Jew wished to celebrate, I would suggest this one. The overriding message is: isn't it great to be Jewish?
We bring the beloved Torah scrolls out of the ark and pass them into the hands of anyone who will take them--young and old, and in egalitarian communities--women and men. You don't need to be able to read Hebrew or know the details of seemingly complicated rituals to participate in the joy of Simchat Torah. Just hold onto a Torah scroll and dance.
Children as well as adults often wave flags in the synagogue on Simchat Torah signifying their pride in the Torah and in Judaism. Another way for children to show their "Torah pride" is to make a "Torah pin" which can then be worn to synagogue for the holiday celebration. This craft idea originally appeared in The Jewish Holiday Craft Book by Kathy Ross, published by The Millbrook Press in Brookfield Connecticut.
Here are the supplies you will need:
· Regular white paper (like you use in the printer) or a roll of adding machine tape
· A plastic drinking straw
· Two brown pipe cleaners
· A scrap of felt or other material
· Fabric trim
· Craft jewels or sequins
· A big safety pin
· Scotch tape
· Fabric glue (regular white glue will do in a pinch)
Here is what you need to do:
1. If you are using 8 1/2x11 sheet of white paper, cut the paper in half the long way. If you are using a roll of adding machine tape, cut off 11-12 inches of the tape.
2. Cut the straw in half and then glue or tape the straw to either end of the paper.
3. Allow the glue to dry and then roll the two ends of the paper together using the straws. It should look like a little Torah scroll. Then tape the scroll shut.
4. Stick the pipe cleaners through the straws to that there is an even amount of pipe cleaner on either end of the straw.
5. Take the scrap of felt or fabric and wrap it around the "Torah Scroll" and then glue it together at the back of the scroll. The fabric or felt should cover the paper.
6. Then fold either end of the pipe cleaners over toward the front of the Torah. These are the handles of the scroll, also called Atzei Chaim or The Trees of Life.
7. Decorate the fabric or felt with the sequins, jewels and fabric trim.
8. Attach a large safety pin to the back of the Torah and then pin the Torah on your child's shirt.
9. Wear the Torah pin to synagogue on Simchat Torah and participate in a "Torah Pride Parade"!
Hag Samaech--Happy Holiday!
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