The Dubno Maggid was once asked why there is a need for the two Jewish Holidays of Simchat Torah and Shavuot as they seem to serve the same purpose. Why don’t we condense them into one grand holiday that celebrates Torah? He answered with a parable. Once upon a time there was a king and queen who were without children for many years. In desperation they visited an old wise man who gave them a potent blessing with one caution attached. If the child would be a girl, no man must see her until her wedding day, lest she die! When the queen gave birth to a baby girl a secluded island was prepared for the princess to live on where she would be raised in the finest royal style with all female educators.
When the princess was ready to marry, the king approached a handsome nobleman and offered his daughters hand in marriage. “Sure” was the response, “let’s meet her!” After the king explained that his daughter was not to be seen before the wedding day, the nobleman declined. Time after time the king was confronted with the same frustrating reaction. “Let’s see her! If not, then how do I know what I’m getting myself into?”
Finally, a man was approached with the proposal, and he told the king that he was greatly honored by the offer. If the princess had the attributes of her royal parents then he would be delighted to marry her even without seeing her until the wedding day.
A date was set and the whole kingdom was invited to the celebration. Everyone came to dance and rejoice. A marvelous time was had by all…except the groom! He was overcome with anxiety. He had hidden his inner doubts and anxieties over not having met his bride in advance. Even during the weeks after the wedding he remained apprehensive. He anticipated that, although she appeared beautiful on the inside and outside, perhaps her ugly side would eventually surface. After months of happy marriage, he came to more fully appreciate her beauty, charm and wisdom. Each day he became more confident that there was nothing ugly to his wife, only beauty.
While this realization brought great relief and joy, the prince was also upset that he had “missed out” on his own wedding. He approached the king and admitted to his earlier doubts about the princess. He expressed to the king that had he known at the wedding what he knows now about the princess, he would have been much more joyous at their wedding. The king decreed that a new party be arranged. All the guests would be invited back but this time only one person, the prince himself, would dance to express his joy and gratitude.
The Dubno Maggid explained that when the Torah was offered to the world there were questions about its contents. However, when Bnei Yisrael were offered the Torah they immediately responded yes: “Na’aseh V’Nishma”. They committed to accept the Torah before they even understood what it contained. Only after living with Torah and experiencing its pleasant ways and peaceful paths are we ready on Simchat Torah to express intense joy over Hashem’s precious gift.
The Magid utilized this parable to explain that the Torah is a gift that can take time to appreciate. I believe that his parable can be applied to the idea that life in general, and the New Year in particular, is a precious gift that can take some time to fully appreciate. We pray for life on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. But it’s only through the lessons of Sukkot (sukkah, simcha, Kohelet, etc) that we begin to understand and appreciate the kind of life to which we should strive. Torah is a Tree of Life. Simchat Torah completes the picture of the life we hope to live in the New Year.
No comments:
Post a Comment