Reflecting 'Hakafot ' - Circling, Laps, Going Around, Encompassing

Now, on Sabbath after the holiday, I reflect on what just had passed.  

I know that this wonderful Feast is one of the three appointed times we are commanded to go to Jerusalem to worship God.  I also know that it is to commemorate the years when Israel set in booth in the desert.  I am taught that it is a fulfillment of the command, "And you shall rejoice before LORD your God seven days". However, on reflection I feel that there is more to the rituals than meets the eye.

 A few times during the year there is the ceremony of "laps" in Israel.  These circles are called Hakafot.

The first recorded encompassing occurred in Jericho, when the Children of Israel went around the walls of the city for 7 days, then 7 times on the 7th day, and the walls fell down.

Later in the Temple, the priests would circle an area that was designated for expansion and walk around it, praying, and praising God.  Could it be that by circling they cleared unseen spiritual walls from that area?

Jeremiah writes about a strange new behavior of a woman circles a man in the land.  This passage inspired at a later date the circling of a groom by the bride.  I was taught that these 'laps' symbolize the falling walls of differences between them so their marriage starts clear of obstacles.

During the Exile, a circling in the Synagogue during the Feast of Booth was established; the ritual continues today.  In Israel, a second set of Hakafot was added, on the night of the 8th and final day of Succoth, to serve as a bridge of time for the hours of difference between the Jews living around the globe.  The dancing with the scrolls is the most joyous time of the year for us, "the Joy of the Torah".

I believe that the 7 laps around the Synagogue with the Torah scrolls lifted high, symbolize the falling walls that we build during the year between us and God.  On this Feast, we complete the reading of the first 5 books of the bible, the Torah, and we start to read it again from the beginning (Genesis 1:1).  We need to have a clear access, no obstacles, between us and God, hence the Hakafot to ensure that the walls come down.  

291st Day of Praise -

I thank you God for providing a simple method to help the nation to overcome obstacles in reaching you.

So simple,

Orith