[Avodah] Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah

[R Wolberg]

I excerpted the following from Perceptions by Rabbi Pinchas Winston...

As most people know, the holidays of Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah are
on the same day in Eretz Yisroel. Now, normally we say, "One should not
combine joyous events" (Moed Katan 8b), but in this case the reason is
simple: it is all ONE simchah! 

For, Shemini Atzeres celebrates the special relationship the Jewish people
have with God (see Rashi on Vayikra 23:36); Simchas Torah celebrates the
special relationship the Jewish people have with Torah. And, the Zohar ties
it all up rather nicely by stating: The Holy One, Blessed is He, and Torah
are one; one who merits a portion of Torah merits the Name of The Holy One,
Blessed is He (Zohar 90b). Elsewhere, the Zohar says, "there is no Torah
except for The Holy One, Blessed is He." 

Thus, the day on which both Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah are celebrated
is the time that both relationships ought to dovetail into one, where the
grasping and cherishing of Torah is also the cherishing of one's
relationship with God. The feeling of love of God is the fulfillment of the
holiday of Shemini Atzeres; the feeling of love of Torah is the fulfillment
of the holiday of Simchas Torah. The feeling of both at the same time is the
fulfillment of what it means to be part of the Jewish people in totality. 

Richard Wolberg 

 

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