Together Forever
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”
Helen Keller
Chazal say that the reason we have Shmini Atzeres is because Hashem enjoyed our company so much on Succos, he wants one more day together with us. "Kasha alai preidaschem" - It is difficult to separate from you.
The question is obvious - we are just prolonging the inevitable! The day after Shmini Atzeres we must go back to the drudgery of daily life and Hashem will miss out on our company [kviyachol]. So how does it help to have that extra day??!
Here we see the genuis of our Sages. They determined that Simchas Torah should occur on the same day as the biblical Shmini Atzeres. If we have Torah - then we NEVER separate from Hashem. That connection is sustained for an entire year. As the medrash says on the pasuk "Vayikchu li Terumah" - "Kviyachol nimkarti ima". When you get the Torah, it is a package deal. I come along, too!!
[Based on Rav Hutner ztz"l in the "Pachad"]
Love and blessings!!
Helen Keller
Chazal say that the reason we have Shmini Atzeres is because Hashem enjoyed our company so much on Succos, he wants one more day together with us. "Kasha alai preidaschem" - It is difficult to separate from you.
The question is obvious - we are just prolonging the inevitable! The day after Shmini Atzeres we must go back to the drudgery of daily life and Hashem will miss out on our company [kviyachol]. So how does it help to have that extra day??!
Here we see the genuis of our Sages. They determined that Simchas Torah should occur on the same day as the biblical Shmini Atzeres. If we have Torah - then we NEVER separate from Hashem. That connection is sustained for an entire year. As the medrash says on the pasuk "Vayikchu li Terumah" - "Kviyachol nimkarti ima". When you get the Torah, it is a package deal. I come along, too!!
[Based on Rav Hutner ztz"l in the "Pachad"]
Love and blessings!!
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