As is customary on Sukkot, we had a few ushpizin or guests, over in our sukka. As she does every Friday night and Yom Tov, my five year old daughter lit her candles and made the blessing. One of the guests didn’t realize that girls start lighting at such a young age so she turned to ask Rosie how long she had been lighting. Rosie looked at her and without blinking an eye responded: “For thousands of years.” This guest was extremely moved and even e-mailed me after the holiday saying that she was still amazed with my daughter’s response.
We are about to celebrate the wonderful and joyous holiday of Simchat Torah. When we dance with the Torah in the streets, we are celebrating the gift we were given thirty three hundred years ago. This is the celebration of our millennia old tradition. This is the Torah that has given us the strength and perseverance to continue onward. This is what gives us the ability to overcome our enemies.
Yesterday, like much of the Jewish world, I was watching the homecoming celebrations for Gilad Shalit in Israel. He is finally home and we no longer have the burden of worry hanging over us every day. When we pray to G-d every day to release our captives, we no longer have to add in Gilad ben Aviva. At the same time, I was also watching how the Arabs in Gaza were celebrating. They blatantly and with no shame proclaim as national heroes the murderers of men, women, and children. The contrast is stark. They draw their strength from hatred, and we draw ours from achdut, unity. Our power lies in the Torah. Our force emanates from the Shabbat candles that have helped to sustain us for thousands of years. It is this strength that we will all celebrate together on Simchat Torah.
On this Simchat Torah, please come and dance with us in unity, in celebration of our Torah and our tradition, as we prevail together over the forces of darkness.