Igrot Kodesh · Letter 782 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,
Eve of Sukkos 5711,
Brooklyn, New York,

The end of the discourse in the present fascicle [1] explains that on Shemini Atzeres* one gathers all the lights, all the revelations of general bearing, that are obtained in this seventh month [2]. These are then integrated and properly sown to allow a wide development.

Moreover, it is explained elsewhere [3] that "the month of Tishri is the head, of general bearing, for the months, whose days are the source and origin of all the year. Rosh Hashanah* brings fear, which the Jews then internalize for the rest of the year. Yom Kippur* introduces Teshuvah*, absolution and forgiveness. The seven days of Sukkos* inspire love and joy for all the year. Nevertheless, Simchas Torah* has a much more general bearing.

"Simchas Torah* bears within it the whole month of Tishri, which reveals the highest Light, surrounding the creation, the essential pleasure of Hashem, the crown of the Torah" [4]. This revelation can be obtained, on Simchas Torah*, by dancing, which is in no way an intellectual activity.

The discourse in this fascicle specifies that the joy is bound to the words of Torah, which possess marks of punctuation and cantillation, and in regard to which all Jews are identical. One therefore rejoices by dancing — that is, by calling on the lowest force of the spirit and the lowest part of the body, the feet.

According to a well-known proverb of the Rebbe Rashab, the period following Simchas Torah* is described by the verse "And Yaakov went on his way" — that of Hashem, of Torah, and of Mitzvot*. Concerning Shemini Atzeres* and Simchas Torah*, my father-in-law, the Rebbe, explains [5] that one goes to a fair to acquire a great quantity of merchandise. Then one returns home for the rest of the year and unpacks one's bundles, devoting this merchandise to its proper destination.

It is so for each man and woman. The seventh month is filled with all the good [6], and Hashem then gives a Jew the "merchandise" that allows him to "earn his living" throughout the year. But one must still unpack the bundles and use this merchandise wisely.

My father-in-law the Rebbe warns [7], in the name of his father, the Rebbe Rashab: "One must appreciate at their true value the forty-eight hours of Shemini Atzeres* and Simchas Torah*. At every moment, one can constitute treasures, fill buckets and barrels, materially and spiritually. One does so through the dances."

Menachem Schneerson,