D’Var Torah
5785 (October 25, 2024) Simchat Torah
Rabbi Micah Friedman
A study sheet to accompany this shiur can be found here.
This is a day of joyously holding the Torah tightly. For many generations, Simchat Torah has been observed as one of the most joyous days of the year and we will this year continue in this tradition as we open the ark, take out each Torah scroll and dance together.
At the same time, however, Simchas Torah is a day of desperate crying out in prayer:
Save us! Answer us!
Whenever we say Hallel – the ancient Psalms of praise recited on holidays and each New Moon – we both praise G0d with songs of gratitude and we call out
Ana Adonai Hoshia Na!! Ana Adonai Hatzlikha Na!
Please my G-d save us! Please my G-d help us succeed!
On Simchat Torah, we introduce each Hakafah with the Torah with these same words and we add to them: Aneinu B’Yom Koreinu – answer us on the day in which we call out.
A year ago, as I encouraged us to say these words together, I knew that the Jewish people were at the beginning of a period of drastic change – of uncertainty and vulnerability. But, the extent was unclear to me. Now, I feel I know too much – and also not enough.
Like so many of us, I feel I may have spent too many hours pouring over analysis about how it could be possible that the State of Israel arrives as a peaceful diplomatic resolution to the war which would return the Israeli hostages, end the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, and even possibly move us in the direction of a larger peace. However, a year later, despite so many hours spent in analysis, the prospect of a peace – however partial – continues to feel distant and out of reach. The path forward seems scary and uncertain.
Sometimes, this makes me mad and angry. At other times, sad and despairing.
Today, however, we are encouraged to turn to joy as a response to our uncertainty and fear. We continue to call out in prayer for salvation, but we do so with joyful melody and with dancing feet.
Our joy on this day is a prayer that even though we know so much grief and despair we can still rejoice – that through holding the Torah tightly we can live good lives filled with joy. Not lives without struggle, but lives in which our experience of suffering can inspire us to wholeheartedly embrace what is good and what is right. As we hold tight to the Torah and dance together, we pray that with G-d’s help we will persevere through the uncertainty of this moment and of this era. We assert with faith that the Torah will endure many generations into a future that is beyond our imagination.
Our choice to sing and dance with the Torah today is a choice to embrace life and joy in the face of death and darkness and this choice reflects a stance of responsibility. We take responsibility for continuing to delight in the Torah and in our Jewish tradition.
As we say at the end of the Torah services, Etz Hayyim Hi
She is a Tree of Life to those who hold fast to Her and all of Her supporters are glad.
May our holding fast to Torah bring each of us the deep gladness and joy which is available to us only when we open our hearts to the dark realities of the world – and choose to continue to pursue wisdom, life, and goodness – to pursue Torah.