LifeHacks

From My Grandparents

  1. Lifehacking: Experiencing Joy (Simchat Torah)

    Modern knowledge can come from ancient sources. Just because it’s the Old Testament doesn’t mean it’s not relevant for today! Check out the page below for some old-school wisdom served up fresh, and don’t forget to sign up for our weekly emails!

    A lot of Jewish holidays are about the saving of the Jewish people from destruction, but Simchat Torah is all about celebration and joy.

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    Simchat Torah is a holiday to celebrate having read the entire Torah, and starting all over again. There’s dancing and singing for kids and adults.

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    We celebrate as a community, which makes for a much better dance party.

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    It’s also a chance to take a break from the craziness of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and the busy fall season.

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    We can take a moment to think about all that we’ve accomplished in the last year, and what we will do better this year.

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    Simchat Torah is a time of endings and beginnings, and a chance to share our feelings with others. It gives us communal opportunities to feel and express one our most important emotions-—joy.

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    Life Hack of the Week: Joy accompanies major moments in our lives, especially big accomplishments. Celebrating with others helps enhance that joy. This week, find something to celebrate and someone to celebrate it with. It could be celebrating the completion of the Torah with friends in synagogue, or it could be going out for dinner to honor a friend’s personal accomplishment. Whatever it is you’re celebrating, let go of your other emotions for a few hours and focus on your joy–let it become a positive memory to get you through tough times that may arise later. Happiness is just as important as the rest of your emotions, and it’s important to make time to let it enhance your life.

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    For more thought-provoking ideas about the holiday of Simchat Torah, please click here.

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