The Jewish Master Card
On Simchas Torah, as we dance with the Torah, we should feel secure in the knowledge that the Torah feels comfortable with us. The mere fact that the Torah is extending us “credit” is indicative of the trust the G-d, the Giver of the Torah, has in our ability to pay back all that we have “purchased” on credit.
Two-fold Celebration
Simchas Torah is when Jews dance with the Torah around the Bimah (the platform upon which the Torah is read). This custom is known as Hakafos, or circuits, because we dance around the bimah.
When we dance with the Torah we have to bear in mind that there is a two-fold celebration. On the one hand, we dance with the Torah to express our joy that we have been given the greatest gift of all; the gift of true life itself, for the Torah is what makes our lives meaningful and worth living.
On the other hand, the Torah also rejoices with us. The Torah appreciates the fact that it cannot accomplish anything without the people who study and implement its teachings. Our dancing feet thus become the feet of the Torah itself.
Allaying our Fears
There can, however, be some hesitation on our part. When we reflect on that which the Torah gives us and then compare it with what we do for the Torah, we might feel that we do not deserve to have the Torah dance and rejoice with us. Perhaps we are not worthy?
To allay any such fears that might inhibit our total expression of joy on Simchas Torah as we dance with the Torah, it would serve us well to reflect on another definition of the word Hakafos. Besides the simple translation, Hakafah can also mean buying something on credit.
Credit
On Simchas Torah G-d gives us all the inspiration and blessing we need for the rest of the year, even before we invest the necessary effort in anticipation of our repayment of the “debt,” throughout the rest of the year.
On Simchas Torah, as we dance with the Torah, we should feel secure in the knowledge that the Torah feels comfortable with us. The mere fact that the Torah is extending us “credit” is indicative of the trust the G-d, the Giver of the Torah, has in our ability to pay back all that we have “purchased” on credit.
Your Brother’s And Your Wedding
Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, the famous Chassidic sage, asked a simple Jew who was dancing ecstatically with the Torah, why he rejoiced with the Torah he had hardly ever studied? The simple Jew’s response – Rabbi Levi Yitzchak was so eager to elicit – was: “one rejoices at a brother’s wedding, as if it were his own.”
The Rebbe added that, in truth, every Jew, regardless of his level of Torah knowledge and observance, should feel, when they dance on Simchas Torah that they are dancing at their own wedding, for the Torah belongs equally to every Jew and every Jew belongs equally to the Torah.
Simchas Torah, thus, means two things: that the Jew rejoices with the Torah and that the Torah rejoices with every Jew.
Moshiach Rejoices on Simchas Torah
In one of the special prayers recited on Simchas Torah, reference is made to Moshiach’s rejoicing on Simchas Torah and that he is likely to arrive on this day.
Moshiach is the one who will usher in an age when our connection to the Torah and the Torah’s connection to us will be complete. Consequently, we will receive payment for the “debt” G-d owes us for all of what we’ve accomplished throughout our long and arduous journey in exile because we have, as a people paid our debts in full.
From the book Light from the Future: Simchas Torah by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.
