Last week, our communities gathered to mark the one-year yahrzeit observance of the tragedy of Oct. 7. While each communal event was different, there were common themes.
Foremost, of course, was the still-raw sadness for the horrific murder, torture and kidnapping of our Israeli brothers and sisters, concern for the well-being of the remaining hostages, fear for the safety of Israelis under constant threat and frustration over Israel's need to send more of its cherished children into war to protect the Jewish state.
Communal, religious and political leaders spoke words of comfort, inspiration and hope. Some events heard from family members of hostages. We sang together. We cried together. We prayed together. We felt the warmth of our communal embrace and found comfort in it. And then we went home.
For many, there was the lingering question: What can, or should, we do next?
There are, of course, programs and fundraising efforts designed to assist those impacted by the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, the Hezbollah attacks in the north and Israel's ongoing multi-pronged challenges coordinated by Iran. Those efforts are important and should be supported.
But beyond our dollars, what can we do to honor the memories of those murdered and honor the continuing struggles of those kidnapped on Oct. 7?
One approach is to join the creative Simchat Torah Challenge, spearheaded by Dan Loeb, a philanthropist and hedge fund CEO. Loeb has partnered with a wide range of Jewish organizations to encourage individuals to honor those killed and taken hostage on Oct. 7 by reading the entire Torah (in weekly segments) over the period of one year, beginning on Simchat Torah 2024 (Oct. 25) and ending on Simchat Torah 2025.
The connection of the Challenge to Simchat Torah is clear. The Hamas attack on Oct. 7 occurred on the Simchat Torah holiday in Israel. Simchat Torah celebrates the completion of the yearly cycle of the reading of the Torah, and features readings from Genesis as we start the cycle all over again.
Under the program, which is co-sponsored by Sefaria, Chabad, Yeshiva University, Tablet Magazine, UJA-Federation of New York, Moishe House, Hillel International and Jewish Federations of North America, among others, those signing up for the Simchat Torah Challenge will receive a weekly newsletter that includes summaries of that week's Torah portion, community updates, local events and supplementary podcasts and videos, as well as access to weekly Torah portion translations and commentaries from Sefaria, and insights from the Tablet staff and other partners.
When first announced, the Simchat Torah Challenge sought to have 10,000 people join the effort. As of Oct. 13, more than 11,000 had already signed up. There is room for more.
The Challenge sponsors make clear that their effort has no agenda other than honoring the memories of those killed and promoting hope for those taken hostage on Oct. 7, and to get participants invested in some form of Torah study to do so. In the process, they promise participants that the Challenge will be "the most joyful book club you'll ever join."
The Challenge begins next Friday, on Simchat Torah. We encourage our readers to consider joining the effort to honor those lost and kidnapped on Oct. 7.