WITHIN THE WORDS

It is a time of rejoicing – yet it can also bring forth our tears: tears of yearning and longing, the brokenness within our hearts, and awe as we come face-to-face with the utter preciousness of who we are. The preciousness of our connection with Hashem. The preciousness of being bonded as one with His Word, the Torah.

The Piaseczno Rebbe zt”l, Hy'd, writes: Hashem, You Who hear every cry – what will You do with the tears that Klal Yisrael shed during these Yamim Nora'im? You have created worlds beyond worlds, yet in the entirety of Creation, only the Yid serves You with all his heart and soul. Heavenly Accusers, come forth and testify: In the entire cosmos, is there even one other who rose to say Selichos? Who but Your Jewish people resounded the shofar through the Heavens and illuminated the Upper Worlds with the kedushah of Yom Kippur, the sukkah, and the Arba Minim?

Yet how much effort does it take 'לִשְׂמֹחַ לִפְנֵי ה – to rejoice before Hashem on Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah! We want to awaken a fire of joy within ourselves. But our hearts cry out: “How can you rejoice while Klal Yisrael – and, so to speak, Hashem Himself – are suffering so deeply?"

Yidden strengthen themselves: עִם אֱלֹקֵי אֲנִי שָׂמֵחַ – “I am rejoicing with Hashem – אֱלֹקֵי נַפְשִׁי, רוּחִי וְנִשְׁמָתִי the G-d of my nefesh, ruach, and neshamah. I rejoice with Him and with the Torah hakedoshah that He gave me with love."

In Derech Hamelech, the Rebbe teaches: “As we rejoice in receiving the Torah, so does the Torah rejoice with Klal Yisrael. הַתּוֹרָה רוֹקֶדֶת עִמָּנוּ the Torah is dancing with us! עִקֵּר בַּעַל הַשִּׁמְחָה הִיא הַתּוֹרָה – the principal ba'alas simchah is the Torah. She rejoices with us, and we experience Her joy. "Human joy is limited by time. But the Torah – and therefore Her joy – is nitzchis. As we enter Her joy, may Hashem help us with a yeshuah in all that we need, so that we can truly rejoice throughout the year." And deep within the hearts of Klal Yisrael, a קוֹל דְּמָמָה דַקָה a still, small voice whispers: "Lift your eyes and await the footsteps of Mashiach." May we be zoche very soon. I

(Based on Tzav V'Ziruz 30 and Derech Hamelech, Simchas Torah תרפ"ו)