Page 7-THE NEWS-November, 1985
LUBAVITCH OF N. C.
Thoughts From The
Lubavitcher Rebbe
Celebrating Simchat Torah
By Rabbi Yossi Groner
In the course of this month
we read in the weekly Torah
readings about Yaccov’s
(Jacob, the third of the
patriarchs) encounter with his
brother Esov.
Esov was on a march of
revenge after Yaccov had
“stolen” his blessing. Yaccov
was returning home after a
long stay (over 14 years) with
his wicked uncle Lavan.
When Yaccov was informed
of Esov marching with 400
men towards his camp, he
quickly went into action by
dividing the camp into three
divisions, but before then he
sent messengers to his brother
Esov with a gift and a
message of peace.
The opening verse of the
message was: ‘‘My Lord Esov,
with Lavan I have dwelled
(garti) and I delayed until
now.”
Naturally there are
numerous interpretations, but
the simple meaning is found in
Rashi’s commentary:
The word garti (I dwelled)
equsds taryag which is the
number 613 corresponding to
the 613 conunandments in the
Tor£ih. Yaccov’s message was:
I dwelled with the wicked
Lavan yet I observed the 613
commandments and did not
adopt his evil ways.
This interpretation is quite
puzzling. The purpose of send
ing the messengers was to ap
pease and to find favor with
Esov. How does Yaccov in
tend to find favor with Esov
by proclaiming, “I lived with
Lavan but I kept the
Mitzvot.”
Yaccov understood Esov
perfectly well. He knew what
impresses and influences
Jewish Pride
Esov. Yaccov was confident
that by proclaiming his pure
faith and commitment to G-d,
he will thereby gain respect
and admiration from Esov and
in fact this approach eventual
ly softened Esov.
When a Jew talks from the
depth of his heart, for deep in
his heart he wants to be a good
Jew and wants to observe £dl
the commandments, he will
reach into the depth of the
other’s hesu-t as Yaccov did for
when he eventually met Esov
they embraced and wept.
The same approach is
necessary when dealing with
people from other nations. In
fact, it is a Mitzvah for the
Jew to influence the non-Jew
to observe the seven Noahdite
commandments in order to en
sure a safe and stable world.
Our generation does not
need proof that we cannot re
ly on logical conclusions of
man, for man is “bribed” with
interests other than Reason
and Justice, as we saw an en
tire nation, including their
scholars and philosophers,
develop a whole philosophy of
laws that brought the greatest
destruction and chaos that
ever existed.
Worse, today there are
disciples and yet another
generation who cling to their
precepts and endeavor to
disseminate them, completely
ignoring the outcomes we
have seen.
There is certainly no need to
specify whom we are discuss
ing. This was a nation
numbered among the develop
ed and cultural nations, civiliz
ed and educated. They
brought to the world destruc
tion, devastation and un
precedented chaos.
' ■ ‘■=V^ 'ij
SUKKOT: Observing the mitzvah of Lulav and Esrog at
Lubaritch Succah.
The only precaution against
such results is through
recognizing: that the fulfill
ment of th3 seven Noahdite
commandments are G-d’s
commandments, when man’s
behavior is determined by the
instructions of that being
“from whose true existence all
existence came into being.”
It is a remarkable fact that
the great majority of regimes,
the different religions of the
world, are explicitly based on
the Torah that G-d gave to the
world through Moses.
Simchat Torah is a time
when we rejoice with the
Torah, and so it was this year
as a large crowd gathered at
Lubavitch residence to rejoice
and dance.
After Rabbi Groner recited
Kiddish and toasted L’chaim,
there followed a full festival
meal served buffet style.
Many delicious cakes and
pastries “imported” from
Brooklyn decorated the tables.
During the meal people were
encouraged to drink L’chaim
and toast each other in good
health.
Dancing and singing with
the Torah, various verses were
chanted in a sing-song manner
to the tunes of Chassidic
melodies and popular Jewish
songs. Children were hoisted
onto shoulders of adults while
dancing and singing in the
largest Succah in Charlotte.
Some of the dancers would
raise a cup of liquor and toast
L’chaim.
“The purpose of this joy”.
Rabbi Yossi Groner explained,
“is to celebrate Judaism. We
conclude the cycle of the
Torah reading on Simchat
Torah, and that is a cause for
joy. Since every Jew is con
nected to the Torah and the
Torah is the basis of our
Judaism, its completion
brings us to a state of
unlimited happiness, and this
joy Is expressed when we
dance and sing with the
Torah.”
SPECIAL
CHArSUKAH
CELEBRATION
FIFTH
ArNINIVERSARY
OF
HJBAVITCn
in
CHARLOTTE
Sunday
December 8, 1985
6:00 P.M.
I'larriott City Center
ICO W. Trade St.
Charlotte, rN.C.
Enjoy great Israeli Chassidic music ivith the
Piamenta band. Experience the Chanukah
lights come to life. Partake of an elaborate
Kosher dinner of traditional holiday foods.
6:00 Cocktails
7:00 Grand Chanukah l^enorah lighting ceremony
followed by dinner
^25 per person
Tickets are available by calling
(704)366*3984