In ancient times, commercial life was based on a large annual fair. Merchants from all over the region would come to this fair. Some would bring goods with them, and others would come to buy the goods and stock up for the next year.
The nimble merchants arrive early and head to the fair, so they can be there from the start and buy all the good goods.
Others are a little late and come after it has already started. And finally, there are those who procrastinated, didn't remember to leave for the fair on time, and yet they come at the closing time of the fair and find some merchandise from which they can make a living.
The fast and the late
The month of Tishrei is likened to an annual fair.
In this month, we stock up on "goods" for the entire year. Rosh Hashanah gives us the acceptance of the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven. In the Ten Days of Repentance, we learn to correct our actions and return to our Father in Heaven. On Yom Kippur, we reveal the deep inner connection we all have with God.
The holiday of Sukkot loads our cart with the values of unity and the reservoirs of joy.
Thus, this month gives us a rich spiritual charge, from which we live all year long.
The agile and wise began preparing for the "fair" a month in advance. Right at the beginning of the month of Elul, they began preparing their hearts and souls to absorb the great abundance of the month of holidays. They purified themselves, took stock of the past year, and devoted more time and attention to spiritual matters, Torah, prayer, and the service of God. When Rosh Hashanah arrived, they were ready to draw from it in handfuls.
Others delayed a bit. Only during the Ten Days of Repentance did they remember that they had to renounce, repent, and prepare for the Day of Judgment. But they still managed to get on the train, and at least from then on they prepared their minds and hearts to absorb the lights of the holidays and stocked up on the precious 'goods'.
The latecomers arrived at the fair after Yom Kippur. They were swept away by the daily hassles, and they didn't pay attention to the advancing calendar. Suddenly Yom Kippur is behind them, and they realize they didn't have time to prepare properly.
But at least now they are here, and they are taking advantage of the second part of the month, the happy holidays, to stock up on spiritual supplies for the new year.
And there are the latter, for whom Sukkot was also missed. The holidays passed one after another, without the proper attention, with their minds in completely different places.
Suddenly they realize: the fair is about to close, and they will be left without merchandise! Then they hear an announcement: "Last train to the fair." They jump on the train and arrive at the fair at the last minute, on the eve of Simchat Torah.
Time to stock up
But it turns out that it's never too late.
The great Hasidic scholars said that on Simchat Torah, it is still possible to "get on the wagon" and equip yourself with all the spiritual baggage needed for the year.
In Hasidism, there is an even more wonderful saying: "Everything that is achieved on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur through weeping and a broken heart, is achieved on Simchat Torah through joy and dancing.".
The pure joy of Jews with the Torah scroll purifies the soul and connects us with God no less than the fasting and the beating "for sin" on Yom Kippur. This is the opportunity for all of us to break out in a passionate dance and take advantage of the precious hours of Simchat Torah to stock up on an abundance of joy for the entire year.
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