It was late at night one New Year’s Eve, December 31st, and the Bais Medrash of Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchov, zt”l, was still filled with his Chasidim who were sitting and learning. Close to midnight, the door to the private office of the Rav, which was adjacent to the Bais Medrash, opened, and the Rav shouted out to his Chasidim: “L’shana Tova Sichasivo v’chasimo”, - ‘May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year!’.
He then returned to his office and closed the door behind him. The Chasidim were mystified. Didn’t the Rav know that this was the secular New Year and not the Jewish New Year? A short time later the same thing happened and the Berditchover Rebbe came out to bentch (bless) them. And then this happened again for a third time.
The Chasidim were totally baffled! As not just anyone could approach the Rav, the men asked an elderly Chasid to approach him and ask for an explanation. The Rav told the elderly man the following: The previous Rosh Hashanah, the Tefilos and Shofar blowing of the city of Berditchov were especially beautiful and heartfelt and went directly to Heaven. Hashem was so taken by these Tefilos that He immediately inscribed the entire city in the Book of Life and bestowed on each and every one of them a year of health and wealth.
The burial place of Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchov
When Yom Kippur came, Hashem was so taken by their fasting and crying. The people poured out their hearts into their prayers. Hashem was about to seal the inscription that He had written on Rosh Hashanah, when suddenly the Satan spoke up. “True, the people have been praying fervently, however, this is only one day! How can You inscribe them favorably for an entire year based on their actions of only one day?"
Hashem therefore held back and the inscription was not sealed. Immediately after Yom Kippur, the people started to build their Succos in preparation of the upcoming Yom Tov. The defending angel spoke up, “Hashem, see how Your people are involved in doing the Mitzvah? Even the poor people are building their Succah to the best of their abilities!”
The Satan was not to be deterred. “Again, I object! True, they are building Succos for You. But, look at the houses they live in, permanent structures of brick, stone and glass. But for You, Hashem, they merely build temporary shacks that can barely last the week!” Again, Hashem held back from sealing the inscription.
Simchas Torah came and the Shuls were filled with dancing and joyful happiness. Again, the defending angel came to Hashem and spoke up. “Hashem, don’t You see how your children are rejoicing for Your Torah? Shouldn’t the inscription be sealed?” Hashem was about to seal the inscription when again the Satan spoke up. “I object yet again! True, they are rejoicing with the Torah tonight. But, how can You inscribe them favorably based on their actions of one night? When Yom Tov is over, they will go back to their old ways! They are undeserving!”
Hashem once again held back from sealing the inscription. So it was that the inscription that was written on Rosh Hashanah remained unsealed through Yom Kippur, Succos, Hoshanah Rabbah, Shmini Atzeres and Simchas Torah.
Tonight, on New Year’s Eve, however, the defending angel spoke up. “Hashem, King of the Universe, do You see how non-Jews celebrate the New Year? Shouting and drinking in the streets, and all manner of carrying on! Do you remember how your children celebrated their New Year? They did it with prayer, atonement and holiness.” This time the Satan had no response.
Rav Levi Yitzchak concluded, “Therefore, after all this time the inscription was finally sealed! I felt it appropriate to bless everyone with “L’shana Tova Sichasivo v’chasimo!”
Reprinted from the Rosh Hashanah 5784 email of Rabbi Yehuda Winzelberg’s Torah U’Tefilah.
