The last portion of the Torah reverberates with the image of circles. After all, immediately after its reading, we start the Torah from the beginning again. We have, indeed, come full circle.

Not coincidentally we read this portion on Simchat Torah, the holiday when we dance in circles, lovingly embracing the Torah as we joyously celebrate the cycle of public Torah reading.

Circles have much meaning. First of all, they symbolize love. We encircle those we deeply care for through embrace. In the words of Rav Shlomo Carlebach: "When you love someone very much, you embrace them. Isn't that stupid? To put your hands on their back? I would say put your hands on their face. On their back? But you know what that means? It means I love you so much I won't let you fall. Whenever you're downhearted, whenever you think you have no strength any more, whenever you're falling you can just rely on me. I'll hold you up."

Rav Soloveitchik offers another understanding of circles. He notes that the word teshuvah-repentance, is associated with the turning of the cycle of the year. (2 Samuel 2:1). As one moves further form Rosh Hashanah, one in fact is closer to the next Rosh Hashanah. Similarly, no matter how estranged one may be from God, there is the belief that one is approaching the Divine. The same applies to God's revelation, the Torah. Even if alienated from Torah study, one possesses the inner calling to reconnect with Torah learning.

Another thought comes to mind. In a circle everyone is equal as all participants are equi-distant from the center. Whatever one's level of knowledge, we are all the same, reaching out, clasping the hand of the other, with whom we dance and sings. Unlike Shavuot, which emphasizes pure learning and invariably separates people into categories of the more and less knowledgeable, Simchat Torah is the great equalizer.

No wonder, our portion-which accentuates the circular power of Torah-begins with the word ve-zot. (Deuteronomy 33:1) The first ve-zot in the Torah-and all firsts set the standard-speaks of the blessing Ya-akov (Jacob) gave his sons. There, ve-zot refers to the cycle of life-as Ya'akov implores his sons to follow in his footsteps, and, he asks that he be returned to be buried with his ancestors. (Genesis 49:28,29)

And when the Torah, wrapped around its circular wooden poles is lifted, we declare-ve-zot ha-Torah-representative of its circular nature. The point is accentuated on Simchat Torah. For it is then that the lifter of the Torah inverts his hands, manifesting the language of circularity-of love, of return, of equality.

May we on this Simchat Torah embrace the Torah - lovingly deeply, endlessly.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Avi Weiss