“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh parshas Noach 5786
2 MarCheshvan 5786/October 24, 2025
THE LAST DANCE
On the way to shul on Simchas Torah morning, someone noted that he often wondered why we have hakafos before Kerias HaTorah. Do we ever dance and celebrate at a siyum before the actual siyum?
I was surprised that I never thought about the question before. Why indeed do we dance intensely before making the actual siyum? In addition, the Sefer Torah is waiting to be lained from, so why should we delay laining? Wouldn’t it make more sense to lain and make the siyum and only then dance?
While I was holding the Torah during hakafos, I had the following thought:
If we lained and made the siyum before hakafos, anyone who didn’t finish would feel that he doesn’t have a part in the dancing. One who didn’t finish would reason that the celebration is for those who finished and since he didn’t finish, he has nothing to dance for.
Therefore, we specifically dance before the siyum to symbolize that the celebration is for everyone. We are celebrating not only what we learned this year – however much it was – but we celebrate the “cheftzah shel Torah”, the very fact that we have the incredible merit to be the Am HaTorah.
It’s also reminiscent of the idea of the Chiddushei HaRim that on Simchas Torah we aren’t celebrating how much we’ve learned – after all, how can one truly feel he learned as much as he could this past year – but it’s a celebration of the Torah we WILL learn in the coming year.
We celebrate first so that everyone can be part of it. Then we have the actual siyum and re-commence immediately.
The following day on Isru Chag someone asked me how we can read about the death of Moshe Rabbeinu on Simchas Torah? Isn’t that a terrible damper on the otherwise unbridled celebration of the day?
He suggested that the haftorah we read on Simchas Torah is about Yehoshua succeeding Moshe and being strong and courageous to follow the path and guidance that Moshe Rabbeinu had set.
In other words, the death of Moshe begins the process of mesorah of Torah, the unbreakable bond of Torah transmission that continues until today.
Although Moshe’s death is painful, it didn’t in anyway mitigate our steadfast adherence and study of Torah. In fact, it strengthened it, because then the nation understood that they needed to maintain Moshe’s legacy and teachings without him, which meant that every one of them had to step up. That is part of the celebration of the day – our personal simchas HaTorah and steadfast unbreakable connection with the Torah.
The Medrash relates a parable to explain why we have the added holiday of Shemini Atzeres. A man invited all his children and their families to join him for a special extended celebration. When the time came for them to depart, the father told them “Your separation is difficult for me. Please stay one more day so that we can spend one more day together.” The celebration of Shemini Atzeres is Hashem celebrating with us for one more day.
The obvious question is that the man in the parable doesn’t accomplishing anything by spending another day with his children; he’s merely delaying the inevitable?
Perhaps there is an added depth to the significance of Shemini Atzeres and its being the conclusion of the glorious weeks of teshuva and holidays.
A wealthy entrepreneur founded a business that was so successful that it developed branches throughout the world. The entrepreneur hired the son of his close friend to manage the business.
The son/manager worked hard to learn the ropes, giving his all day and night, investing tremendous effort to ensure that things run efficiently.
One day the entrepreneur informed his young manager that he was to host the company’s annual weeklong team convention with the heads of every department from around the world. The meeting would be held in an upscale hotel with every luxurious amenity imaginable. The manager understood that it was his job to ensure that all the esteemed guests were pampered and dined and enjoyed the week.
During the convention, after daily meetings there were delectable meals prepared by world class chefs. In addition, there were numerous activities including concerts and various attractions for the guests to enjoy. There were also voluntary lectures given by internationally renowned business gurus.
When the week was finally over all the guests were driven to the airport so they could return to their respective destinations. Clearly, they had all enjoyed themselves and the convention had been a complete success.
The manager himself returned to his room and began packing his belongings when a bellboy knocked in his door and handed him a note from the entrepreneur requesting that he stay overnight to meet with him in the morning.
The manager was intrigued. Was there something that he still needed to take care of? Did he forget something?
In the morning, the manager sat down nervously at the beautifully set breakfast table. The entrepreneur walked in, sat down and smiled. He explained, “You know that my deep friendship with your family goes back many decades. You also know that I have known you since when you were a little kid and I’ve always loved you. I’ve watched you grow and mature and seen how mature, resourceful and responsible you are.
“That’s why I gave you this job. I knew you would excel. I’m sure you also remember years ago, when we used to go for walks together and speak about every topic under the sun? We discussed life, marriage, business, friendship, and everything under the sun. I miss those times.
“I know we just spent a week together, but you were busy working hard for the company the entire time. I wanted to spend one extra day alone with you, just like in the good old days, so we can spend time and perhaps schmooze together. I want you to realize that I don’t just appreciate you because of all you’ve done for me and the company. I love you for who you are, and I appreciate you for who you are, not just your work and your efforts.”
Throughout Succos we are busy performing and focusing on the incredible mitzvos of the Yom Tov. Aside from the encompassing mitzvos of succah and daled minim, there are so many customs and other concepts to focus on such as Ushpizin, simchas beis hashoeivah and hoshanos. It’s also known that when the Beis Hamikdash stood, 70 oxen were offered during the week of Succos, corresponding to and atoning for the 70 nations of the world.
Then Succos ends and it’s time to return to the routine. The convention has concluded successfully. We have done our bidding and atoned for the world, and it’s time to return to the daily grind.
But before we do, Hashem calls to us and says, “Stay one more day! I don’t want you to be busy with mitzvos. I don’t want you to bring offerings for other nations. I want to spend a day with you because I love you. I don’t only love you for doing my bidding in this world. I love you because you are my children, and you are my people. I love you because you are you.”
We in turn want to reciprocate that love. We want to express our desire to always be close with Hashem. There is no other way to do so than by grasping the Torah and dancing with it.
Simchas Torah may have passed. But its message needs to carry us through the next half year until the next biblical Yom Tov, Pesach.
It’s a message a love, a message of devotion to and pride for the Torah for each of us on whatever level we are on, and it’s a message of responsibility to uphold the mesorah and to transmit its immutable timeless words and values to the next generation.
That’s enough spiritual energy to keep you warm on the coldest and darkest winter days.
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani Staum
STRIVINGHIGHER.COM