Chagim, Shmagim

Simchat Torah was AMAZING. It rejuvinated me just the way I needed, baruch Hashem...First there was dancing and hakafot at my university (which, as I've said, has a huge frum community) which was wonderful because none of the hostility I've felt at Shabbos services was there at all - it was just an incredibly joyful celebration of Torah. And my non-religious friends also LOVE this particular chag because of all the excitement that takes place in Manhattan. I think what I really loved about it was that for once, we were all on the same level; there were no miscommunications or fractions or debates. We were just Jews, strangers and friends alike, celebrating together. Needless to say, the "synogogue-hopping" which occurred after we left campus was equally successful. I even got to dance with the Torah on the women's side at one of the shuls - which was perhaps one of the most powerful things I've ever done. The last time I was "up-close-and-personal" with a Torah was when I read from it at my [Conservative] bat mitzvah...and now, with my love and understanding of Torah infinitely greater since becoming religious, I felt like I had made a full-circle - from an academically-minded child reading from an ancient text she doesn't recognize or quite understand, to a grown human being who has seen the truth in tradition and returned to celebrating Hashem the way Jews have for thousands of years. In a way, to touch the Torah again seemed to symbolize my journey as a baalas teshuvah.

(Sorry for the poor writing, I was rushed and just wanted to give a little follow-up.)