With the Simcha of “Nasan lanu Toras emes, v’chayei olam nata bisocheinu” we will break through the galus and greet Moshiach!
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
Shabbos this week falls out on the 12th day of Sivan which is the last of the seven days of completion, zayin yemei tashlumim for the holiday of Shavuos. It is therefore an appropriate time to reflect on what we accomplished on Shavuos and take a lesson with us into the rest of the year.
Shavuos is different that any other Yom Tov in a number of ways. Firstly of it’s the only one-day Yom Tov (Pesach and Sukkos are each 7 days). Also there is no special mitzvos on Shavuos such as Matzah on Pesach or a Sukkah and the Arba Minim on Sukkos. Shavuos has only the regular mitzvos for a Yom Tov that all Yomim Tovim share.
What makes Shavuos special is that it is the day we were chosen as Hashem’s unique nation. We were wanted and then chosen on this day not because we were smart or refined. When we were chosen we were lifted up and brought close to Hashem. This is the entire essence of the day.
As we mentioned in last week's article this our greatest simcha, the joy is being who we are, the Jewish people, the nation uplifted to and brought close by Hashem. We take joy in what can accomplish through the study if the Torah and performance of mitzvos. This has nothing to do with how learned or refined we are. What really counts is that we have the good fortune to be one with Hashem and His Torah, nothing else even compares. This is why Shavuos has no other mitzvah.
The Previous Rebbe wrote a long letter to Reb Eliyahu Tzvi Einbinder, the father of Rabbi Mordechai Einbinder (Igros Kodesh v.6 Yud Iyar 5702-1942) which includes stories that the Rebbe heard from his teacher the Rashbatz. One story takes place In the year 1857 on Shavuos. A large group of Chassidim including over a hundred and twenty rabbis some of which were the very best in Lubavitch at that time, as well as many wealthy Chassidim, Baal HaBatim and simple Chassidim came to Lubavitch to spend Shavuos with the Rebbe the Tzemach Tzedek. At that time, due to a fire the Rebbe was living in temporary housing which included a large garden area where the Chassidim would gather to review the Rebbe’s maamorim and Torah insights. The content of those maamorim were deep G-dly thoughts which only the very learned and those who understood Chassidus well were able to grasp. The simple Chassidim were not able to understand. From amongst everything that was reviewed over the entire Yom Tov there was just one maamor which began with the words “B’Sha’ Sh’hikdimu, At the moment Yisroel preceded the words ‘We will do’ before ‘We will understand’” that everyone could understand, even the most simple and unlearned.
This maamor, “B’Sha’ Sh’hikdimu” discusses the power of self sacrifice that Jews have for G-dliness and the strong stubbornness that comes along with it that Jews have for the Torah and the mitzvos. The Rebbe included many references from Medrash and other sources that clarify and illuminate this point. The Maamor goes on to detail the tremendous pleasure, nachas ruach, which Hashem has from the most simple person which keeps the mitzvah with energy passion and vitality imbued with the fear of Heaven; nachas ruach l’fanai sh’amarti v’naaseh ratoni; it is pleasure in front of Hashem when He spoke and His will is fulfilled”.
When these great Chassidim in the garden completed their review this Maamor; “B’Sha’ Sh’hikdimu” and everyone understood, the simple Chassidim spontaneously burst out in song and dance with a familiar song with the words; “Baruch Elokeinu sh’baranu l’kvodo, v’hivdilanu min ha’toyim, v’nasan lanu Toras emes, v’chayei olam nata bisocheinu; Blessed is Hashem who created us for His honor, separated us from the mistaken and gave us the Torah of truth, and placed everlasting life in our midst”.
Throughout the day they sang this song over and over again, each time with a greater enthusiasm and vitality, with a clearer and more resounding voice, to the point that they expanded into fiery expressions with intricate and absorbing dance which soon became irresistible to even the most circumspect onlookers.
The greatest Chassidim of that time, R’ Yitzchok Issac of Vitebsk, R’ Hillel of Paritch and R’ Yitzchok Isaac of Homil, were deeply moved as they looked upon these simple poor folks who often didn't have enough food for themselves and their families and how they put aside all of their mundane concerns and how they threw themselves with such vitality and became so engrossed loosing themselves in the joy and firery dance, inspired by the Rebbe’s maamor.
The Previous Rebbe went on to say that His teacher the Rashbatz would tell a Chassidishe story with all its details exactly like the reading of the megillah. He would tell this story in particular with unique joy. Because of his tremendous ahavas Yisroel, He had a unique insight to be able to see the inner core of Judaism as well as the purity and simplicity of a simple Jew. For that reason this story was uniquely beloved to him.
The Rashbatz continued the story. R’ Yitzchok Issac of Vitebsk upon seeing this outpouring of these simple Chassidim turned to R’ Hillel of Paritch and said; What do you say about the “v’nasan lanu Toras emes” of Nachum the wagon driver? My uncle, the Gaon R’ Zalmena Stutzker (a great non Chassidic Torah scholor) never said “v’nasan lanu Toras emes” with such a joy as the wagon driver Nachum does!
R’ Hillel replied; the exalted happiness with which Shmelke the cleaner and Shalom the tailor say “chayei olam nata bisocheinu” is beyond compare greater than the greatest happiness achieved by wealthy lifestyle of the richest Rothchild! R’ Yitzchok Isaac of Homil chimed in that this dancing of the simple Chassidim with “nasan lanu Toras emes, v’chayei olam nata bisocheinu” will be the first dance that Moshe Rebbenu will have, ahead of all the greatest in every generation at techiyas hameisim!
It is this kind of simcha that we take with us from Shavuos into the entire year. It all begins by learning and being inspired by Chassidus.
A Good Shabbos