Rabbi Roodyn

It is with more than a tinge of sadness that we take down the sukkah and return to normality. Winter is almost upon us, short, cold dark days. It will be almost six months before we will start the Yom Tov cycle again.

The 53 days from Rosh Chodesh Elul until Simchas Torah are days of relationship building with the Master of the Universe. We have experienced a process  of anticipation, coronation, introspection, purification, consolidation and elevation, and we are all the richer for it.

And then we come down to earth with a bump. Life goes back to normal, and most of us are probably looking forward to a 5 day week!

The day after Yom Tov has a semi festive status. The term isru chag is based on the posuk at the end of Hallel אסרו חג בעבוטים bind the festival (offering) with cords … Although work is of course permitted, we don’t say tachanun and should honour the day with slightly nicer food. This is our way of saying that we don’t want to let go of all we have attained over these last 53 days.

Perhaps this sense of not wanting to let go is reason that the Yom Tov season concludes with Simchas Torah is to remind us as we say in selichos אין לנו שיור רק התורה הזאת, the only thing we have left is the Torah. Torah is our primary method of connection to Hashem. It illuminates our lives and provides direction even in the darkest of situations. Regardless of our level and background we all have plenty to learn.  This is something we can take with us from the Yamim Tovim as we move towards the winter.

It is an honour and privilege to send out these posts, I hope and pray that Hashem will grant us the ability to learn together throughout these coming months.  PG we will be continuing with Tehillim Chapter 8 and then moving on to other exciting ideas. If you know of anyone who would like to join this list please forward me their email address.