THE NOTES
For the past several weeks we have been using the parallel of the orchestra to gain a taste of our holidays. We understand Rosh Hashanah as our commitment to participate in the orchestra and to accept the direction from our Conductor. On the days leading up to Yom Kippur we prepared to remove any barriers that would interfere with the communication between the Conductor and ourselves. On Yom Kippur the Conductor Himself removed those barriers. During the subsequent days we pre-pared for our performance by gathering the instruments and preparing the symphony hall in which to perform. Finally, on Succos we actually perform. With our Lulav and Esrog in hand and our hearts swelling with joy that we have been chosen to perform and be so close to the Conductor, we sing our Hallel in perfect harmony to our Conductor. Every Jew performs with the instruments he was given following the notes that are designed for him. Even the non-Jews will come to hear the performance; they are, after all, the audience.
This is the destiny of our people – to sing the composition composed by HaShem in front of the entire world and have them appreciate the Grandeur of our Conductor. With the conclusion of Succos the performance concludes, the guests go home and we have completed our mission. What is the celebration of Shmini Atzeres? What is left to celebrate?
It is those notes from which we learn what to play. Those are the notes that the Conductor Himself gave us. These notes have no parallel.
In a symphony orchestra, every instrument has its respective set of notes. There may be several violins playing the same notes but the oboes have their own set of notes and the clarinet has his own and so on. The conductor has everyone’s notes and directs everyone accordingly. If everyone shared the same notes nobody would know which part is theirs and which part is their neighbor’s.
The Torah, however, which are the notes written by HaShem for our performance are quite the opposite. There is only one Torah and it never changes. The Torah that Moshe wrote is the very same Torah that Yeshayahu studied and it is the very same Torah that Rashi studied. The very same Torah that the Vilna Goan studied is the same Torah that my grandson studies as well. Those notes are so rich because they carry the Names of HaShem Himself. His genius is infinite and His Names are infinite. Just as every person has his unique insight and experiences which generate his unique understanding, so too, the Torah that every person studies and the Torah they learn carries a tune which is unique to them. There will be nobody else who will express it in quite the same way. It is the combined Torah which every Jew studies and the mitzvos that every Jew performs; everyone in their unique way, that creates the symphony which expresses the Will of the Conductor. It is for this symphony that HaShem created the world.
Our symphony has no parallel because we are not merely being directed by the conductor, we are actually playing the notes which carry the Name of the Conductor. The music generated is not coming from our personal instruments alone but it is an expression of the Conductor Himself through the filter of each member of the orchestra.
If we are to remain true to our parallel of the orchestra let us consider Shmini Atzeres and Simchas Torah as the cast party. Now that we have performed our symphony, and the guests have gone, it is time to celebrate with the other musicians, with the Conductor and certainly with the Notes!
Have a wonderful Shabbos and a joyous Simchas Torah!
Paysach Diskind