He answers with a moshol of a simple man who attended the wedding of a big tzadik’s child. At the wedding, he sang, danced and was exceedingly joyous. When asked why he was so happy, he replied that hundreds of men had traveled from far and wide to be at this simcha. He said, “I am a simple, poor man. For me, it is a tremendous zechus to be part of such an extraordinary crowd. That’s why I’m so happy.”
So too, we are all happy to be part of such a remarkable nation. Even the simple people should rejoice for the zechus of being able to celebrate with everyone else.
Accordingly, if the yomtov would be called “Simchas Yisroel” that would indicate that only those on the level of “Yisroel”, meaning those properly fulfill the Torah and mitzvos, have a share in the holiday. However, since it is called “Simchas Torah”, we know that it is a holiday to celebrate Hashem’s joy, as the entire Torah consists of names of Hashem. Thus, it is like the day that Hashem makes a chasuna, and even simple people are able to rejoice at such an occasion.
Yochai Joined the Kozhnitzer Magid’s Hakafos:
One year on the night of Simchas Torah, the Magid of Kozhnitz zy”a was especially enthusiastic and danced with extreme emotion. His son, Rav Moshe zy”a, was not audacious enough to ask him about it, but his son-in-law, Rav Avi Ezri Zelig Shapiro zt”l, Rov of Grenitz (father of the Rebbe of Maglanitza zy”a, did build up the courage to ask why he was emotional.
The Magid told him that his father, Rav Shabsi, sits in Gan Eden next to the Tana, Rav Yochai, father of Rav Shimon Bar Yochai. That day, Rav Yochai asked Rav Shabsi to take him with him to his son’s hakafos and, in return, he said that he would take him on Lag B’Omer to the hilula of his son, Rav Shimon. And they agreed to the deal. The Magid said, “Since my father and Rav Yochai were standing next to me, I was greatly aroused and became very enthusiastic.”
Passing Torah on to One’s Offspring:
Sefer Shalmei Chagigah (written by the author of Yesod V’Shoresh Ha’avodah) writes in the name of Rishonim that one who rejoices with the Torah on this day is assured that Torah will never part from his offspring. He then relates the following story:
There was a great Rov who rejoiced very much on Simchas Torah. It was said, that no one had ever seen anyone as happy as this Rov on this day. He would dance and clap and urge everyone else to sing along. He would even go to every other shul to wish “mazal tov” to the Chosson Torah.
His offspring for the next three generations were all great talmidei chochomim and Torah teachers, and it was known that this was in the merit of his tremendous joy on Simchas Torah. His offspirng continued his traditions on Simchas Torah, and everyone could tell from that whose children and grandchildren they were.
The Main Joy is For The Future:
The Shem M’Shmuel (Hoshana Rabbah 5681) quotes his grandfather, the Kotzker Rebbe zy”a, as saying that the joy of Simchas Torah is for the acceptance to learn Torah in the future, and not for the Torah learned in the past. No one can claim that they learned enough in the past but everyone can accept to learn more in the future.
Even Fake Simcha:
The Bais Aharon of Karlin zy”a states that the first letters of the words “v’hayisa ach sameach” spell out the word “shav” (fake). He said that this is because “a fake simcha is better than a genuine sadness.”
Rejoicing With the Torah:
On Simchas Torah, we recite the words: “Sisu v’simchu b’simchas haTorah.” (Let us rejoice and be happy with happiness of the Torah.) The Bais Avrohom quotes his father, the Divrei Shmuel of Slonim zy”a, as asking why we say “with the happiness of the Torah.” Why don’t we just say “with the Torah”?
He answers that we rejoice because the Torah is happy that it did not end up in the hands of the non-Jews when Hashem offered it to them, as if they had accepted it, they would not treated it with the type of respect Klal Yisroel has for it.
Dancing Strength for the Entire Year:
The Rashab of Lubavitch zy”a (quoted in Sichos Harayatz) said, “The dances on Simchas Torah provide strength to learn Torah and do mitzvos for the entire year.”
Simcha Causes Sins to be Forgiven:
The Munkatcher Rebbe zy”a (Sefer Shaar Yissochor, Tishrei, Maamar Zeman Simchaseinu 16) writes that when people rejoice on Simchas Torah with all of their strength, without being worried about their judgment for the year, Hashem forgives all their sins even if they had been judged harshly and fulfills all of their desires.
Hashem Hears Us on This Day:
In this vein, Rav Pinchos of Koretz zy”a (Sefer Imrei Pinchos) explains that the reason we recite the words “anainu b’yom kareinu” (answer us on the day we call to You) by the hakafos on Simchas Torah is because we are asking Hashem to hear us on the day when we read (kareinu) the Torah, as this day is the end of the judgment and we can be answered for everything on this day.
When Jews Dance, Gehenim is Cooled:
The Rov of Tchechinov zy”a (quoted in Divrei Yechezkel Hachadash) said, “In gehenim, neshamos are tortured and beaten but if one says that he danced on Simchas Torah, he is not burnt so badly.”
One Who Embarrasses Himself is Blessed With Children:
The Yismach Yisroel of Alexander zy”a once saw a man who was very joyful on Simcha Torah. He noticed that the man was doing strange and somewhat embarrassing things and dancing very wildly in honor of the Torah, to the extent that he almost looked crazy. He also knew that this man had no children.
He told him, “Because Michal, the daughter of Shaul, criticized Dovid Hamelech for dancing wildly and embarrassing himself in front of the Aron and in honor of the Torah, she was punished by not having children. Since you embarrassed yourself for the honor of the Torah, you certainly will have a child.”
And so it was. That year, the man had a boy.
Blessings For Children and Health:
Similarly, Sefer Ateres Yeshua (Minhag Rikudim, Ois 14) states that since the pasuk says (2 Shmuel 6:15) that Dovid danced, clapped and contorted himself in front of the Aron and Michal was disgusted by this and, therefore, she had no children, we can discern that when one dances in honor of the Torah, he will merit children. He adds that one who does so will also merit good health as the words “hakafah” and “banim” have the same gematriah as the word “refuah”.
One Can Accomplish More Than on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur:
Kuntres Tzadik Katamr Yifrach writes that the Kedushas Yomtov of Sighet zy”a said that when one lifts his foot to dance on Simchas Torah, he can make more tikkunim than he can make from the beginning of Rosh Hashanah until the end of the yomim tovim.
Paying Hashem with Dances:
Sefer Agra D’Tzvi (Hagahos on Agra D’Pirkah, Remez 347 170, Ois 2) says the following moshol in the name of Rav Yitzchok Isaac of Kaliv zy”a to explain why we sing, dance and rejoice on Simchas Torah.
A man once came to an inn and ordered all types of delicacies and a nice room. He did this day after day, racking up a large bill. When the owner brought him his bill, he told him that he had no money to pay him.
The owner said, “If you don’t pay, I will call the police.’
The man replied, “What will gain from doing that? You still won’t get paid. I have a better idea. I have no money to pay you but I am a good dancer. I will dance in front of your guests and this will attract more customers and make you money. That’s how I’ll pay you back.”
The nimshol is that during the Yomim Noraim we ask Hashem for parnassah, nachas and all good things. We trust that He will hear us and give us what we need. When Simchas Torah arrives, we have no way to repay Him. Therefore, we dance for him and, in this way, we are overcome with thoughts of teshuva and a desire to do mitzvos and good deeds. That is how we pay Him back.
May we all merit to sit in the sukkah made from the skin of the Livyason and to truly rejoice on Simchas Torah with the arrival of the redemption, speedily and in our days.
