14 Oct SIMHAT TORAH: APPRECIATING THE ROADMAP TO THIS WORLD AND THE NEXT

Simhat Torah
is one of the
happiest and
joyous holidays of
the year. However, Simhat Torah
appears to be, chronologically, “out
of order.” Since we received the
Torah after Pesach, on Shavuot, we
would expect the celebration of the
Torah to occur on Shavuot, and not
months later, after Sukkot.
We can understand this based
upon the following parable: There
was once a man who wished
to be married. The “shadchan”
(matchmaker) told the man about a
young lady with wonderful qualities
and attributes. After agreeing to
marry her, at the wedding, he
graciously thanked the shadchan,
and all of those responsible for the
wedding. However, after living
with his new wife for a few months,
he once again went back to the

shadchan, and thanked her again,
as only now he fully realized and
appreciated what a great gift he
received.
Similarly, although we thank G-d
for the gift of the Torah on Shavuot,
are gratitude is somewhat limited,
as we are not yet familiar with the
Torah. On Simhat Torah, however,
after finishing reading the entire
Torah, we begin to understand the
depth of the Torah, its ethics, and
the direction and guidance of the
Torah. Therefore, months later,
we once again thank G-d for the
Torah, and we dance with the Torah
again, as we now understand the
sweetness and beauty of the Torah.
Also, there may be another reason
why we celebrate the Torah on
Simhat Torah, and not on Shavuot.
Unfortunately, many believe that
the Torah restricts and shackles a

person and that one cannot live a
normal life with the Torah. After
learning the Torah, we realize
that the Torah is pleasant and its
ways are peaceful – “deracheha
darchei noam vechol netivoteha
shalom.” The Rabbis teach us that
the Torah is a guide for a regular,
normal, meaningful life. The laws
of the Torah are for our benefit, and
provide us with a roadmap of how
to get from this world, a vestibule,
to the World to Come. On Simhat
Torah we thank G-d for giving us
guidance and direction to the world
to come.
Interestingly, immediately after
finishing the Torah, we return to the
beginning of the Torah: Bereshit.
Parashat Bereshit begins with the
letter “bet”- which is the numerical
value of two. It is possible that
the beginning of the Torah, life’s
roadmap, begins with a “bet” to

hint to us that the Torah provides
instruction and guidance for two
worlds- This World (olam hazeh)
and the World to Come (olam
haba). Those who follow the Torah
receive not one “world,” but two.
Only after having learned, studied
and lived according to the Torah
for a period of time does one truly
appreciate this, and then, on is
ready to celebrate the Torah.