| A Challenging Simchat Torah Today's class has been sponsored for the complete refuah shelema of Leora bat Tziporah As I composed this lesson, news came out that due to the uptick in Corona virus cases, many shuls in our districts will be closed fairly soon, for some time. That would be upsetting anytime of the year, but is especially so when Simchat Torah is coming up, a time when we want to celebrate and be happy with the Torah. Of course, we hope that things will turn around somehow, but in case they don't, I'm talking to myself and others, about what our attitude is suppose to be.
The Yearot Devash tells the famous story of when Rav Chanina Ben Dosa was very poor and his wife wanted to turn things around. Eventually, she retracted her wishes, having realized that in the long run, they were able to accomplish more for the world in their difficult state, than they would have if they were in a wealthier position. After telling over this story, the Yerot Devash says that a person is supposed to think, and not be too smart. We shouldn't say, "if only things were like this or that, it would be better for me." We have to realize, in his words, the following:
כי הוא הטובוה מטיבה אמיתי רוצה בשלימות יצוריו,
אף כי עם קרובו ישראל אשר בצערנו לו צער כן כולם, וישמח בחלקו אשר נתן לו ה',
G-d is the Good and the Bestower of good, and the only true One, who only wants what's best for his creations, especially for the Jewish people. When we are in pain, He's in pain. Obviously, if he's doing this for us, it's exactly what we need. We should be happy with the lot that G-d gave us. That means that if we are going to be home for Simchat Torah, and not dancing with the multitudes, we have had to say to ourselves, כי בלי ספק לטובתו ולשלימותו הוא, כי ה' חושב מחשבות לבל ידח ממנו נדח, והוא אשר דבק בנו לטובתנו: Without a doubt it's for your good and will bring you to your perfection. Because G-d is always thinking of ways that we aren't going to be pushed off, (i.e. lost) And He is always cleaving to us, for our own good. This is always a very, very important principle, but especially in times like this, when we are uncertain and unhappy about what's going on. We have to realize that this is all for our own good, even if it's going to be a spiritual challenge, as in our case now, where it doesn't seem like it'll be an easily joyful Simchat Torah.
As we mentioned yesterday, the greater the challenge, the greater the reward.
I'd like to share a beautiful story, told over by Rav Shach z'l: During World War II, the inmates of a concentration camp were being led to their final destination, the gas chambers. One of the inmates realized that it was Simchat Torah, so as they stood in the gas chamber moments before death, he told them what day it was. He said that although they didn't have a sefer Torah to dance with, Hashem was there with them nonetheless, and he suggested they dance with Hashem.
So they started to dance. Before long, everyone in gas chamber was dancing together. Rav Shach, the Gadol HaDor, leader of his generation, Rosh Yeshiva of one of the largest Yeshivot in the world and author of many sefarim said the following,
"I would have given my Olam Habah (World to Come) to be present at that scene."
Rav Shach felt the connection, the holiness, and the level that these Jews reached, specifically by overcoming the challenge and connecting to G-d in the most difficult of circumstances. He would've given up his place in Olam Habah in order to be there as one of those Jews. That is an extreme example of a trying Simchat Torah. But whether we are all alone, just husband and wife, or a family with children, we have to take Humash in hand and dance up a storm, because Hashem is there- even without the shul, and without the people.
That's what He wants, and so we have to be happy.
There's a story we have told in the past, (but it's worth repeating) of two great Hasidic giants who were imprisoned in a jail cell that had a dirty toilet placed in the middle of the cell. Because of this, they could not make any berachot, learn any Torah, or do any mitzvot. One of man was getting depressed because of this. The other man told him, "We might not be able to make a beracha or learn Torah, but what does G-d want from us right now? G-d wants us to do none of the above, and therefore, we are going to celebrate doing Ratzon Hashem/ the Will of G-d. So they started dancing around the toilet, because that was the Will of G-d. This is what we have to do. We have to put ourselves in that state of mind, and be happy regardless of the situation. Have a wonderful day. |
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