A Message for Simchat Torah
October 4, 2023
Rabbi Eric L. Wasser, EdD., High School Talmud Teacher
Saturday Night Live: At a Local Shul By You
A Chassidic tale by the Baal Shem Tov teaches that on the morning after Simchat Torah, exhausted from the hakafot and festivities of the previous evening’s revelry, everyone slept late.
Nonetheless, the heavenly angels, unencumbered by the constraints of human fatigue, arose for morning prayers at the crack of dawn to sing Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh.
A Chassidic tale by the Baal Shem Tov teaches that on the morning after Simchat Torah, exhausted from the hakafot and festivities of the previous evening’s revelry, everyone slept late.
Nonetheless, the heavenly angels, unencumbered by the constraints of human fatigue, arose for morning prayers at the crack of dawn to sing Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh.
The Talmud, in Chullin 91b however teaches that:
ואין מלאכי השרת אומרים שירה למעלה, עד שיאמרו ישראל למטה
The heavenly angels cannot sing praises of the Ribbono Shel Olam in the heavens, until the people of Israel join to sing God’s praises, here on earth.
With nothing to do, absent the voices of the Chosen People, the angels decided to do some overdue chores, cleaning-up in the heavenly hallways.
That morning, the malachim (angels) found their paradise littered with torn slippers and broken heels. The angels were accustomed to finding tzitzit, tefillin, and the echoes of heartfelt prayers, but they had never come across the likes of tattered footwear.
One angel, fortunately privy to the previous night’s celebration, reported, “these are the remnants of last night’s hakafot, at which Jews danced passionately with all their hearts, with all their souls, and with all their might, with their beloved Torah”.
After sorting the shoes (and arranging for an Amazon Return Delivery to various earthly neighborhoods), the most prestigious angel in the heavenly court exclaimed, “Most days, I tie crowns for Hashem out of Israel’s prayers. Today, I shall fashion an even more glorious crown out of these worn out, but truly holy, shoes.”
All of us likely have memories of the merriment invited, anticipated, welcomed, and honored on Simchat Torah. While you may not have broken a heel or overburdened a shoe tread, you likely went home with a scratchy throat, drenched shirt, sore feet, and, for sure, a full heart.
At the very core of our mission, whether this Saturday night for Simchat Torah, or more importantly, each and every day, we at Leffell, embrace the Psalmist’s adage of עִבְד֣וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה בְּשִׂמְחָ֑ה בֹּ֥אוּ לְ֝פָנָ֗יו בִּרְנָנָֽה, Serve God with joy and come before Him in song.
Courtesy of our student-led band, we were privileged to hear this week, such melody resounding during our grade-level Hallel. In fact, we are benevolently blessed to experience that joy in each teacher/student scholarly conversation, in routine hallway interactions, in intriguing classroom questions, and in the simcha (joy) that steadfastly saturates our school campus.
As we prepare for Shabbat and the end of the Yuntif season, may we all experience the unbridled joy of recognizing life’s blessings and celebrating Torah. May this Saturday Night Live’s Simchat Torah (at a shul by you) remind us to share our spiritual legacy gratuitously and graciously, with our precious children, our dear loved ones, and our truly holy kehilah.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach,
Rabbi Eric L. Wasser, EdD., Hon.M.
Talmud Teacher, Rosh Tefilah
ואין מלאכי השרת אומרים שירה למעלה, עד שיאמרו ישראל למטה
The heavenly angels cannot sing praises of the Ribbono Shel Olam in the heavens, until the people of Israel join to sing God’s praises, here on earth.
With nothing to do, absent the voices of the Chosen People, the angels decided to do some overdue chores, cleaning-up in the heavenly hallways.
That morning, the malachim (angels) found their paradise littered with torn slippers and broken heels. The angels were accustomed to finding tzitzit, tefillin, and the echoes of heartfelt prayers, but they had never come across the likes of tattered footwear.
One angel, fortunately privy to the previous night’s celebration, reported, “these are the remnants of last night’s hakafot, at which Jews danced passionately with all their hearts, with all their souls, and with all their might, with their beloved Torah”.
After sorting the shoes (and arranging for an Amazon Return Delivery to various earthly neighborhoods), the most prestigious angel in the heavenly court exclaimed, “Most days, I tie crowns for Hashem out of Israel’s prayers. Today, I shall fashion an even more glorious crown out of these worn out, but truly holy, shoes.”
All of us likely have memories of the merriment invited, anticipated, welcomed, and honored on Simchat Torah. While you may not have broken a heel or overburdened a shoe tread, you likely went home with a scratchy throat, drenched shirt, sore feet, and, for sure, a full heart.
At the very core of our mission, whether this Saturday night for Simchat Torah, or more importantly, each and every day, we at Leffell, embrace the Psalmist’s adage of עִבְד֣וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֣ה בְּשִׂמְחָ֑ה בֹּ֥אוּ לְ֝פָנָ֗יו בִּרְנָנָֽה, Serve God with joy and come before Him in song.
Courtesy of our student-led band, we were privileged to hear this week, such melody resounding during our grade-level Hallel. In fact, we are benevolently blessed to experience that joy in each teacher/student scholarly conversation, in routine hallway interactions, in intriguing classroom questions, and in the simcha (joy) that steadfastly saturates our school campus.
As we prepare for Shabbat and the end of the Yuntif season, may we all experience the unbridled joy of recognizing life’s blessings and celebrating Torah. May this Saturday Night Live’s Simchat Torah (at a shul by you) remind us to share our spiritual legacy gratuitously and graciously, with our precious children, our dear loved ones, and our truly holy kehilah.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach,
Rabbi Eric L. Wasser, EdD., Hon.M.
Talmud Teacher, Rosh Tefilah