[Note: This special issue of HaMaayan is being made available only via EMAIL and net-news. All articles in this issue are excerpted from the book: "HaMaayan: Three Years of Torah". The date, volume number, and issue number for the original appearance of each of the articles is noted at the article's conclusion. ] HaMaayan/The Torah Spring Edited by Shlomo Katz Shabbat Chol Ha'Moed Sukkot 20 Tishrei 5752/September 28, 1991 Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah are one holiday - in fact, in Israel they are celebrated on the same day - but they are not part of Sukkot. Technically, therefore, none of the Mitzvot of Sukkot apply on these days. Many communities, however, have the custom that all or part of one or both of the Shemini Atzeret meals is held in the Sukkah. The reason for this goes back to the time when the timing of the holidays depended on the sighting of the new moon, and new month had begun. Many communities in the Diaspora had no timely means of learning when the new month had begun, and therefore, observed two days of every holiday. Today, although we are fortunate to have printed calendars, the custom of our ancestors has already taken the force of laew, and all our holidays have two days. It follows, by the same logic, that the day which we observe as Shemini Atzeret should also be observed as the final day of Sukkot. (It should be noted, however, that many people did not adopt this custom of eating in the Sukkah on Shemini Atzeret, and each person is obligated to follow the custom of his ancestors.) The reason for this holiday is given in the Midrash by a parable: The children (Jews) of the king (G-d) came from around the world to spend a week (Sukkot) with their father. At the end of the week, the king said, "I enjoy your company, please stay another day (Shemini Atzeret)." (Compiled from articles in HaMaayan, Vol. 1,#28, 1987 and HaMaayan Vol. 2, #53, 1988) ************************************ Simchat Torah On Simchat Torah, the yearly cycle of reading the Torah is completed. This is a time of great joy, as much as is a wedding, because Bnei Yisrael are said to be married to the Torah. It is also the custom to begin the Torah again from B'reishit as soon as we complete the cycle, lest it appear from our celebration that we are happy to be relieved of a burden. Why is the completion of the Torah celebrated on Simchat Torah, rather than on Shavuot, the holiday which marks the giving of the Torah? This may be explained by a parable: A certain king once took a bride, and as is the custom, held a sumptuous banquet in honor of the new queen. The guests noticed, however, that the celebration was somewhat subdued. In fact, the feast was quite small by the standards of the royal house. Several months later, the nobles of the realm were surprised to find that the king was preparing to hold a lavish reception, "In honor," as the invitation announced, "of my new bride, the Queen." All the invited dignitaries were perplexed. First of all, why did the king call the queen, his "new" bride? Hadn't they been married for nearly half-a-year? And why was he making a banquet now, after having celebrated several months before? With these questions in the back of their minds, the nobles went off to the banquet. One sumptuous course was served after another. There were roving orchestras and many of the best singers in the land. But, there was no hint of the answers to the guests' questions. Finally, after dessert had been cleared away, the king rose to speak. "Many of you are undoubtedly wondering," the king began, "why I brought you here today. Allow me to explain. "Not long ago, a neighboring king suggested to me that I become his son-in-law. Naturally, I was honored, and being that the princess was well spoken of, I married her. Nevertheless, she was actually unknown to me and, as such, my joy was dampened somewhat. For this reason, the wedding feast was not quite the celebration that you had expected. "At that time, I did not know what a treasure I had acquired. But today I do. Now I appreciate my queen in a way that is possible only after we've shared each others' lives for these past few months. Please join in celebrating with me." With that, the king proposed a toast. On Shavuot, Bnei Yisrael accepted the Torah, not because they knew its worth, but because G-d is a reliable Shadchan-matchmaker. Only after living with the Torah for several months can we truly appreciate it, and celebrate our completion of its reading. (Heard from R' Shlomo Naiman) (Originally appeared in HaMaayan, Vol. 2, #53, 1988) ************************************ The Joy of the Torah R' Shlomo Yosef Zevin writes that there are two types of joy in this world. He calls them simply, "direct joy" and "indirect joy." "Direct joy" is that happiness which is achieved without any suffering beforehand. "Indirect happiness" is that which comes after prolonged preparation and agony. Most of this world's joys, says R' Zevin, are of the latter type. For example, a baby is born only after difficult labor pains. Even more so, there are times when the agony is present, but the likelihood of an eventual joyous outcome is not obvious to all. Here the suffering one undergoes is even greater than in the case of childbirth, says R' Zevin, where we know that a happy outcome may be expected. In reality, we take on faith that all that transpires will ultimately work out for the best. For this reason Chazal enjoined us that, "One is obligated to bless Hashem for the 'bad' as well as for the 'good'." (Berachot 54a) We also take on faith that all will be explained to us at some future time, and then we will experience true joy. When we have been purified from the state which nearly forces us to see all events in a very shortsighted way, we will see clearly what Hashem holds in store for us, and we will understand the meaning of true joy. On Simchat Torah, we get a taste of this happiness. The joy of Sukkot, culminating of the last day, is not the outgrowth of agony and suffering. It is the result of the purifying effect of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. As the above pasuk promises us, on Simchat Torah we may experience only joy. (L'Torah U'L'Moadim) (Originally appeared in HaMaayan Vol. 3, #58, 1989) ************************************* Learning schedule for this Shabbat: Daily Mishnah Me'ilah 6:6-7 (Learn 2 Mishnayot daily) Daily Halacha Orach Chaim (Mishnah Berura) 308:43-45 (Learn 3 paragraphs each day) Daf Yomi Yoma 58 (Learn 2 sides of a page daily) Shemiras Halashon: Asin 9-10 Guard Your Tounge: Chapter 6:1-2 Rambam 1 Chapter/Day: Hilchot Tumat Ochlin: Ch. 6 3 Chapters/Day: Hilchot Melachim V'Milchamotayhem: Ch. 1-3 Sefer HaMitzvot Sh:P173,N362,N364,N363,N365; Su:P187,N49,P188,P189,N59 M:N46,P190,N56,N57,P192,P193 Tu:P191,P214,N311,N58,P221,N263,N264 ******************** Posted by Alan Broder, ajb@grebyn.com (uunet!grebyn!ajb), who should be contacted to request back issues of HaMaayan or to get on or off the direct email mailing list. Shlomo Katz can not receive EMAIL, however I will pass on any comment forwarded to me, or alternately, send your comments care of yehuda@gwuvm.bitnet