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DOUBLE JOY
...With regard to the question of hatzlacha [success] in study and the gaining of knowledge, surely you know of the promise of our Sages, "Try hard and you will succeed." Thus success is largely something which depends on the student himself. However, inasmuch as everything requires Divine help, including also that the "try hard" as well as the "and you will succeed" should be satisfactory, the way to obtain this is through devotion and diligence in the study of the Torah and the observance of the mitzvot with hiddur [enhancement]. This is mainly a matter of will and determination, for nothing stands in the way of the will.
Having just concluded the month of Tishrei, culminating with the joyous festival of Simchat Torah, you have surely heard the explanation of the Alter Rebbe [Rabbi Shneur Zalman, founder of Chasidism] that the joy of Simchat Torah is a double one: the Jews rejoicing with the Torah, and the Torah rejoicing with the Jews, based on the verses, "Israel rejoices with their Maker" and "G-d rejoices with His works."
Since all the festivals of the month of Tishrei conclude with Simchat Torah, it means that this mutual rejoicing can be achieved only through the fulfillment of the Torah and mitzvot, as it is stated in the Zohar, "Israel, the Torah, and the Holy One blessed be He, are all one" - the Torah placed in the centre as the connecting link between Israel and G-d.
We have but one Torah, comprising both Nigleh [the revealed] and Chasidut [the mystical], which must be studied with a view to fulfillment of the mitzvot with hiddur, as emphasized by our Sages that the essential matter with regards to Torah study is the deed. This brings G-d's blessings for hatzlacha not only spiritually, but also materially.
