שם משמואל – Shemini Atzeres 5672 – "עצרת היא מלשון קליטה" – The word, "עצרת" comes from a Loshon of "קליטה" – a Loshon of gathering in, to make everything useful. Shemini Atzeres is a time for a person to gather in all the Mitzvos and Avodah that he has performed during the days of Sukkos, the Yomim Nora'im, and the month of Elul, to reflect on what he has traversed, and how he will utilize it for the coming year.
Now we can understand what it means that the glory of being Oleh Regel is in the shoes. When Klal Yisroel left the Bais Hamikdash, when they put back on their shoes and headed back home – returning to the daily grind of life – that was where the true potential of beauty was. While they were in the Bais Hamikdash, it was very easy to be a part of Kedusha, to feel the Kedusha, to live by and with the Kedusha. However, what happens when one leaves and returns home. Does he leave all of those feelings and Kedusha in the Bais Hamikdash, in Yerushalayim, or does he take them home with him?
This is what we are saying here. The beauty is in the shoes – the Kedusha that one takes home. The same is true with the Yomim Tovim. We went through Yomim Nora'im and Sukkos – days of Kedusha and connecting to Hakodosh Boruch Hu. The true beauty is what we do after the Yomim Tovim leave. What do we do when we go back to the daily grind of life? Do we elevate it, and keep some of that Kedusha of Yom Tov with us, or do we leave it behind?
There is a special light which comes from the crowns which Klal Yisroel received when saying נעשה ונשמע. We lost those crowns because of sin – but the light is now in Torah and Shabbos. We dance with the Torah on Simchas Torah, and seek to bring forth that great light. Yom Tov is over, but we still have ways to tap into this brilliant light: Shabbos and Torah. May we be Zoche to take the Kedusha of Yom Tov with us through the year – through the Torah Hakdosha. May we be Zoche to tap into the hidden light, and may it be illuminated with the coming of Moshiach, במהרה בימינו אמן.