Hamas-Iran's Mistake and the Simchat Torah War
It was one year ago, on the holiday of Shemini Atzeret & Simchat Torah, that Hamas launched its brutal attack on the Jewish people. According to credible reports on the secret deliberations among Hamas leaders, this attack had been planned for over two years. They debated whether to carry it out on Yom Kippur or Simchat Torah.
Iran's leadership and its terrorist proxies' are well-versed in Jewish traditions and understand the secret to Jewish resilience.
In 1973, Egypt chose to attack Israel on Yom Kippur, aiming to exploit the sanctity of the holiest day of the year. Fifty years later, our enemies again chose to attack on Simchat Torah, hoping to turn the most joyous day of the Jewish calendar into one of grief and mourning.
Miraculously, over the past few months, the Jewish people have witnessed the downfall and elimination of numerous arch-enemies, the weakening of terror groups' fighting capabilities, and G-d’s protection from hundreds of ballistic missiles fired from Iran.
At the same time, we recognize that Israel continues to face significant challenges. We have lost many men and women in combat and to acts of terror, over a hundred of our brethren remain hostages, and uncertainty looms.
This may prompt us to ask: should we temper our festive celebrations this Simchat Torah in light of the ongoing difficult circumstances?
A similar question was posed to the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, following the Yom Kippur War in 1973, when Israel suffered heavy losses early on.
The Rebbe instructed that with the festival of Sukkot approaching, it was important to rejoice because on Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah, it is a mitzvah to be joyful. He quoted from Psalm 121: “G-d is your shadow,” and shared the Baal Shem Tov’s explanation that just as your shadow mirrors your actions, so too does G-d (our 'shadow') mirror us. When we are joyful, G-d reciprocates and joyfully helps us defeat our enemies.
The climax of the High Holiday season and Sukkot occurs during the Hakafot of Simchat Torah, when we hold the Torah scrolls in our arms and dance with them around the reading table in the synagogue.
This cherished custom is somewhat perplexing. Imagine attending a graduation party where students dance around in circles, gleefully holding up their academic books. Of course, it’s not the books themselves they are celebrating, but the wisdom, experiences, and academic achievements gained during their time in school. Ostensibly, wouldn't it make more sense to celebrate the completion of the Torah reading by attending in-depth classes on Judaism or participating in rigorous Talmudic debates?
But herein lies the secret of our connection to Torah & Mitzvot and why this holiday brings us so much joy. Our connection to our Jewish identity is not defined by our religious observance or knowledge of tradition. Rather, it is based on our Divine soul and the intrinsic bond we share with G-d. Of course, we cherish Torah learning and recognize the importance of observing Mitzvot for it enables us to enhance our connection and fulfill our mission on earth. But our Jewish identity lies at the very core of our being, and that is what we are celebrating on this special day.
On Simchat Torah, all Jews—whether learned or simple—participate equally in the celebrations. These celebrations tap into a part of the soul that transcends all distinctions of rank or status. At this level, no difference exists between one Jew and another. Our shared bond allows us to join hands and dance together, disregarding the personal differences that might otherwise separate us.
This is what Iran and its evil proxies misunderstood about the nature of the Jewish people. Not only have they failed to break our spirit and joy, but the Jewish people are now stronger, more connected, and more optimistic than ever. Following Oct. 7- Simchat Torah, millions of Jews, both in Israel and in the Diaspora, have chosen to respond by reconnecting with our Jewish identity and traditions.
This Simchat Torah, let us commemorate the first Yahrtzeit of our beloved brothers and sisters by dancing with extra joy and having in mind the hostages and our brave soldiers who are currently fighting for our safety. With G-d’s help, we will win this war and dance together this year in Jerusalem with the coming of Moshiach!
