A Fiery Law - Letters and numbers of Simchat Torah

Autoplay Next

A Fiery Law: Letters and numbers of Simchat Torah

Before the Torah was given, it existed as “black fire written upon white fire.” This is alluded to by the unusual term “eish-dat,” which is written as one word but read as two.

Handouts:	Simchat Torah
Topics:	Festivals, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, Sukkot, Vezot Hab'rachah, Simchat Torah

Aaron L. Raskin

Rabbi Aaron L. Raskin is the official Chabad emissary to downtown Brooklyn, rabbi of Congregation B’nai Avraham in Brooklyn Heights, New York and Dean of Brooklyn Heights Jewish Academy. He is the author of the books, “Thank You God for Making Me a Woman", "Letters of Light", "By Divine Design", and "Guardian of Israel", and the co-author of "The Rabbi & The CEO".

More in this section

Join the Discussion

Sort By:

NewestOldest

7 Comments

Rita Forbes Clinton, MD October 7, 2020

A great lesson that brings one closer to understanding the ways of G-d, worship, personal and collective worship.

Thank you. Reply

Jenifer Nech Houston September 29, 2018

Thank for this teaching. Inspiring. Reply

Hilda Zeigler Gales Ferry September 28, 2015

A Fiery Law Dear Rabbi Raskin,
I am filled with gratitude for this lesson. The end begs the question, at least in my mind, where might one find lessons on how to develop the capacity for increased joy in all 10 faculties of body and soul ( 3 intellectual and 7 emotional)?
Thank you! Reply

Liebe Feiga Jerusalem, Israel October 14, 2014

A problem First, thank you so much for this excellent inspirational shiur. One problem: your explanation of the "two days" of Simchat Torah/Shemini Atzeret does not work if one is B"H Israeli. Since S.T. and Sh.Atz are only separate days outside of Israel, then your reasoning regarding these two days being parallel to Rosh ha'Shana's two days does not work out. Although I really like this idea of bracketing the entire season of the Chaggim by a two-day festival--only one of those days is Rabbinic (Simchas Torah outside of Israel), while Shemini Atzeret is a commandment de'Oraita. I would love to hear your ideas on this. Thank you again, and Chag Simchateinu Sameach! Reply

ruth housman marshfield hills, ma October 9, 2012

HILL... EL O, to bottle this talk!

"This joy can impact the entire year".

We yearn for this.

Sameach Yod. A perfect 10.

Ani YODeah.

Black: the absorption of light
Black: for dark, not understood

White: purity, a crystalline lens, prismatic
reflective

NOW IS the time of the Burning Bush. Autumn. Aut for self. OM: eternal fire.
I feel Moses especially this season

Newsprint: Black/White White: to read between the lines, to interpret, discuss

Black and White: rarely the case in the creation of ethical decisions.

We can argue merit on both sides, OFTEN. We must use our "gray" matter.

AV is aurally OF in English as in belonging and be longing. And for Audio Visual. And for birds, AVES

G_d is in the wings.

G_d wrote for us a LAV story.

Wherever we look: such Unity of Truth.

The "letter of the LAW" requires we read, between the lines, as what's writ in stone is meant to be interpreted

Hillel: for the climb, the hill: Mt. Sinai.

reSPIRE breathe inSPIRE Reply

Anonymous Limerick, Ireland October 5, 2012

Simchat Torah (A Fiery Law) Thank you for the lecture and excellent delivery
LChaiam...
Geraldine Reply

velma witkowski Monroe Twp., NJ October 20, 2011

Simchat Torah Thank you Hashem for the Torah!!! and LChaiam to life!!!! Amen and Amen Reply