Simchat Torah will mark two years since the horrific murderous attack on the Gaza Envelope. For thousands of families, this is the anniversary of the fall of their loved ones, and for the families of the kidnapped - the day when the terrible nightmare of concern for their fate and the fierce hope for their return began.
This is the day that the 'Iron Swords' War began, which (as of this writing) has not yet achieved complete victory, the defeat of the enemy. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers spent the holiday month on the battlefields, with their families anxious for their safety.
And here comes Simchat Torah, the holiday that concludes the Tishrei holidays, and perhaps we are not clear on how we should celebrate it. Well, what is correct?
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The deep meaning
The answer lies in understanding the deep meaning of joy. Some perceive joy as the result of a good mood or a desire to have fun and enjoy themselves, and then look for a place where they can 'rejoice', dance, and let loose. Sometimes it is even an artificial attempt to cover up the lack of joy with what pretends to be joy. It is clear that when the mood is not right, there is no desire to be happy.
But Jewish joy, and especially the joy of the holidays, is something else entirely. We are not happy out of a 'mood', but out of a connection to our inner sources of energy. It is a joy that stems from the faith in our hearts and from understanding the meaning of being Jewish, connected to the Torah of Israel, its commandments, and its festivals.
Even during the darkest periods of Jewish history, Jews did not give up the joy of the holidays. We have countless records of Simchat Torah in the Nazi extermination camps and the Communist concentration camps. Jews whose lives depended on it made every effort to rejoice in Simchat Torah, because from this joy they drew strength to continue living and believing.
Hasidism speaks much about the power of joy to transform a negative reality into a positive one. It emphasizes the necessity of avoiding dwelling on gloom and sadness, but rather to rejoice and lift the spirit, especially in the joy of the holidays and the joy of the Torah. Joy breaks through barriers, abolishes decrees, and awakens great abundance from above.
put aside
Precisely now, as we pray for victory over our enemies, we must remember the proverb, "It is not the victor who is happy, but the joyful one who is victorious!" Joy is what brings victory. Precisely now, we are called upon to increase inner and true joy, which will give strength to the people of Israel and from which will come complete victory.
The day of Simchat Torah is the source of joy, it is the spring from which we can draw an abundance of joy for the entire year. Whoever rejoices in true joy on Simchat Torah – will rejoice, with God’s help, all the days of the coming year. And to that end, we are required to push aside everything that might cloud the joy, and devote ourselves with all our heart and soul to the work of the day – to lift our feet, to dance, to sing, to rejoice with the Torah, to push ourselves into the dance circles.
Let us dedicate ourselves to the joy of the Torah, let us all go out together in joyful dances, and let us be filled with an abundance of joy, unity, and faith for the entire year.
