Friday, October 28, 2016

Holiday overload? Happy they're over?

Shanah tovah to one and all!  I’m back!

I realize it’s been a while since I last ruminated.  There were these holidays and, thank God, Yona’s Bar Mitzvah among other things keeping me busy.  (See here for my sermon given at the Bar Mitzvah entitled “Ha’azinu, Bob Dylan, and a Bar Mitzvah.”)

If you’re interested in some of my holiday messages, please let me know, and I’ll be happy to share them with you.
-------------------------------------


 Anyone out there feeling a little bit of holiday overload?

It is natural to feel a sense of relief now that the holiday season has concluded.  It has been almost a month of intense eating, disjointed schedules, family visits, travel, and missed work (unless you’re a rabbi).

Since the holidays ended, everyone I meet has been asking me, “Are you glad the holidays are over?” or “Aren’t you relieved that the holidays are over?”

I understand their thinking.  The holidays are the busiest time for a rabbi and other synagogue officials.  There are sermons to prepare, arrangements to make, congregants to seat, and thousands of Sukkah meals.  It is, indeed, exhausting.

I answer, however, that, despite all the work, I am sorry to see the holidays end.  This is the time of year when people are coming to shul and paying attention to what I think are important messages and concepts.  I view the holidays as being like the World Series, and I am winning!

Simchat Torah, the last day of the holiday season holds the key to understanding how we should be feeling right now.


Simchat Torah is a holiday that did not exist.  The Torah commands us to observe a holiday after seven days of Sukkot.  We call that holiday “Shemini Atzeret.”  Outside of Israel, this holiday lasts for two days.  The whole idea of celebrating the cycle of reading the Torah only became widespread around 1,000 years ago. 

Since this holiday after Sukkot now has a theme, joyous celebration of the Torah, the name Simchat Torah was born.  In Israel, they celebrate a one-day holiday that combines Shemini Atzeret with Simchat Torah.  In the Diaspora, since there are two days of the holiday, we call the first day Shemini Atzeret and the second day Simchat Torah.

The whole purpose of the holiday is, as its name implies, to instill joy in being Jewish. 

We start the year with a wake-up call of the shofar to strive for a sweet year.  Next, we have Yom Kippur, which allows us to confront our past and try to make it right.  Then, we get a chance to celebrate the New Year surrounded by reminders of God’s protection (the Sukkah) and encountering various themes and symbols of Jewish community and joy (like the four species, Hallel).

Finally, it’s time for the grand finale!  How do we top three weeks of holidays?  Our wise ancestors knew that the key to a great year filled with connection to Judaism is with simcha, with joy.

Simchat Torah is all about trying to get everyone to be happy with Judaism.  We sing and dance.  We encourage everyone to come close to the Torah.  We bring our children and show them a good time.  Judaism can be fun.  We honor the conclusion of the study of the Torah, and we celebrate starting it again.

It’s all about the simcha!

Rambam (Maimonides) teaches (Laws of Shofar, Lulav, and Sukkah 8:15):

The happiness with which a person should rejoice in the fulfillment of the mitzvot and the love of God who commanded them is a great service …there is no greatness or honor other than celebrating before God…

Simchat Torah concludes the holiday season so that the last thing we encounter is joy. 

Simchat Torah may conclude the holiday season, but it also marks the beginning of a new year.  We are now free of holidays, but we have the joy of Simchat Torah echoing in our ears as a reminder to always be joyous in our Judaism.

Simchat Torah is not the end.  It builds the momentum for how we should approach our lives, our families, and our Judaism throughout the year.

Too much of the holidays?  I don’t think so.

No comments:

Post a Comment