In the Liminal Space Between Endings and Beginnings

by

Parashat V’Zot HaBerachah · Deuteronomy 33:29
“Fortunate are you, O Israel! Who is like you, O people whose salvation is through God.”

Each year, on Simchat Torah, we read verses from Parashat V’Zot HaBerachah—the final portion in the Five Books of Moses—and then roll the Torah scroll back to the very beginning to read the opening words of B’reishit.

This sacred turning invites us to pause in the liminal space between endings and beginnings—a threshold moment filled with both memory and possibility. It is this moment of transition, when we stand poised between what was and what will be, that inspired my prayer for this week’s parasha.

Liminal Space

Source of All—
Help me embrace this place,
the liminal space that effortlessly holds me,
inviting me to connect with my breath,
my body,
my heart,
my soul,
and with You.

Grant me the gift of sacred time
exploring a new paradigm
when moments of wonder scatter like poppies
punctuating my awareness; calling me to awaken to what is.

Suspend my need for busyness
so I may transcend the constant chatter of my thoughts
and ascend to the sweet awareness
that for this moment
there is nothing I must do,
nowhere I must go,
and that it is okay to just be.

Holding Joy, Sorrow, and Hope

As we celebrate Simchat Torah, our hearts are full—of grief and longing— and a spark of hope. This week marks two years since the devastating attacks of October 7, when 1,200 souls were murdered by Hamas—many of them young people dancing at the Nova Music Festival.

We cannot help but think of them as we prepare to dance with the Torah. We remember those whose lives were cut short, and we pray for the safe return of those still missing. An agreement has been reached, and we are collectively holding our breath—hoping that the coming days will bring them home.

In the midst of sorrow, we affirm the sanctity of life. In the presence of uncertainty, we hold on to hope, and to the enduring belief that light can emerge from darkness.

Prayer for Simchat Torah In a post-October 7th World

As we dance with the Torah
in a post–October 7th world,
may we be present to
the immense sorrow,
etched forevermore into
the fabric of this holiday.

As we await the return
of those still held in captivity,
and the fragile promise of peace
we pray will follow,
we hold on to the hope—
that our prayer, “Bring them Home,”
will soon be a reality.

As we light yartzeit candles
for the 1,200 souls
who will not dance
with the Torah this year,
may we keep hope in our hearts
and find joy in our celebration.

As we remember those
whose stories are
now indelibly inscribed
on the pages of our hearts,
may we find solace
in our shared grief
and comfort in being together.

As we embrace the annual
Torah reading cycle,
may connecting with this sacred text
help us grow in wisdom and understanding.

As we celebrate Simchat Torah,
may we dance with great joy
and make space for the deep sorrow,
and may the Torah be
an enduring source of inspiration
for the generations yet to come.

Journaling Prompts

  1. What helps you hold both joy and sorrow at the same time?
  2. Where in your life are you standing at the edge of an ending or a new beginning?
  3. How does remembering the past shape the way you choose to live in the present?
  4. What does renewal mean to you in this season?

Closing Blessing

May our hearts find peace in the liminal space between what was and what will be.
May our souls find joy in the sacred transition from ending to beginning.
May we hold onto hope, and may our prayers for peace be answered.
May we shine our light— individually and collectively— and may it help dispel the darkness.