V’zot HaBracha/ Simchat Torah: An Unfinished Story

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Simchat Torah will never be the same. Three years after October 7, this day will always carry a sense of before and after. A day associated with joy and dancing is now also a time to honor those we lost and ensure that their devotion and legacy live on through us.

This message is embedded in the day itself: On Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah, we complete the Torah with the account of Moshe’s death. This raises a question: If Moshe died before completing the Torah, who wrote its final verses?

One answer in Talmud Bava Batra is that Moshe’s disciple Yehoshua completed them. This points to a deeper idea about Torah and human mortality: No single person, not even Moshe, can encompass all of Torah’s truth and wisdom. Rabbi Eliezer expresses a similar idea on his deathbed. Surrounded by his students, he likens himself to a Torah scroll being rolled up, never to be opened again, and laments how much Torah he still wished to learn and how little of his knowledge he had imparted. Yet, his Torah endures through the pages of the Talmud. Torah is larger than any one person’s lifetime, just as the Jewish people’s story is greater than any one generation. While we must strive to fulfill our potential, we are part of a much larger, unfolding story. As Rabbi Tarfon teaches in Pirkei Avot: “It is not your duty to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.”

On Simchat Torah, we do not only finish the Torah; we immediately begin it anew. Doing so on the very Hebrew date on which we lost so many heroes in the Otef now takes on new significance. Each life lost carries a legacy, a story cut tragically short. We are charged with remembering them and carrying forward their stories, their Torah, and their Zionism.

As Rabbi Sacks taught: “That bond of the generations we call covenant…is what rescues life from tragedy, and death from having the final word.” Simchat Torah is now a day of unfinished stories, but also a celebration of new beginnings and the stories still waiting to unfold. Shabbat Shalom & Chag Sameach -Karen Miller Jackson

Next week we begin a new Torah reading and “Power Parsha” cycle. Please encourage friends and family to join! (if you already receive it, no need to sign up). Here is a link to send friends:

To subscribe to “Power Parsha” a short dvar Torah on the parsha, Zionism, leadership and contemporary issues via whatsapp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CKLpCygJaBf20sKbNmRV1u

or via email here: https://karenmillerjackson.com/

V’zot Ha-bracha: This Simchat Torah

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“This is the blessing…” Moshe’s final act is to bless the people of Israel in Parshat V’zot Ha-bracha, which is always read on Simchat Torah. Given the emotions surrounding this day, the Torah concludes with a message that feels particularly appropriate.

The midrashim provide two beautiful ideas about the power of blessings: 1) The Sifrei Devarim sees a link to the previous parsha, which was filled with rebuke of Israel, followed by Moshe’s blessings. This teaches that one who gives harsh criticism should always follow it up with words of comfort. 2) The midrash Tanhuma looks back at the giving of blessings in Bereshit which were mixed – some positive, and some highlighting the negative. In contrast, Moshe’s brachot to the people here, were given with an “ayin yafeh,” a good eye, accentuating the positive in others.

One more lesson can be drawn from the final words of the Torah, praising Moshe upon his death: “That Moshe did before the eyes of all Israel.” Rashi comments: “This refers to the fact that his heart inspired him to shatter the tablets before their eyes (following the sin of the Golden Calf),” after which God congratulates Moshe. The Lubavitcher Rebbe asks why, after the blessings and praise, does Rashi bring up this incident which seems disparaging of Israel? In fact, says the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the mention of breaking the tablets is meant positively. It opened up the possibility of teshuva, of renewal for Am Yisrael. Moreover, while the first luchot came from God, the second luchot represents God’s commending Moshe and the people’s aspiring and choosing wholeheartedly to accept the Torah.    

This Simchat Torah let’s hope for blessings for Israel and the Jewish people: That we can give words of comfort, see each other with a “good eye,” and that we carry the memory of all that has broken and find healing and redemption. May it be a Chag Sameach! -Karen Miller Jackson

I also want to thank you for joining me for this year of Power Parsha and for your meaningful feedback. This coming year will focus on “Hope, Positivity and Optimism in the Parsha.” Please think of a friend or two who might like to receive Power Parsha and send them this link! Also if you already receive Power Parsha, no need to sign up again:-) Here is a link to send friends:

To subscribe to “Power Parsha” a short dvar Torah on Hope, Positivity and Optimism in the Parsha via whatsapp: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CKLpCygJaBf20sKbNmRV1u or via email here: https://karenmillerjackson.com/

Simchat Torah: Celebrating Torah!

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Beginnings and endings are significant. This is true in the Torah as well. On Simchat Torah we complete the Torah when we read parshat Vezot Habracha and then begin again with sections of Bereshit. Why celebrate the completion of the Torah reading cycle? And how does this correspond with Rashi’s commentary on the final verse of the Torah?  

King Solomon set a precedent for celebrating a “siyum,” completion of a book or the entire Torah. The midrash (Shir Hashirim Rabbah 1:9) teaches that King Solomon awoke from a dream having acquired great wisdom which he had requested, so he celebrated with great joy and thanksgiving. This early source for celebrating the completion of the Torah on Simchat Torah highlights the importance of acquiring Torah wisdom as well as personalizing, innovating and ultimately celebrating our relationship with Torah.

A similar message is found in Rashi’s interpretation of the final verse of Devarim: “And in all that strong hand and awesome power that Moses displayed before the eyes of all Israel.” Rashi, citing midrash Sifrei, associates “that strong hand” with Moshe receiving the tablets “in his hands.” And “before the eyes of Israel” with Moshe smashing the tablets “before their eyes.” Why end his commentary on this seemingly negative note, a reminder of a low point for Israel? In fact, the Talmud sees positivity in Moshe’s breaking the luchot: “asher shibarta” (which you broke) is interpreted as God saying “yashar koḥakha” (loosely: more power to you) that you broke them. Rashi’s final commentary emphasizes that Torah does not come to an end. A “Living Torah” provides the possibility to continuously receive the Torah alongside the need to sometimes break or innovate within Torah – which is affirmed by God.   

May Simchat Torah be filled with personal appreciation and communal celebration of Torah. I want to thank you all for joining me on another power parsha journey this past year and I look forward to continuing to deepen our appreciation of Torah together this upcoming year! Chag Sameach – Karen Miller Jackson
This week we begin a new Torah reading and “Power Parsha” cycle. Please encourage friends and family to join! (if you already receive it, no need to sign up). To subscribe to “Power Parsha” a short dvar Torah on the topic of parsha, mindfulness and tefilla via whatsapp click here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/CKLpCygJaBf20sKbNmRV1u or via email here: https://karenmillerjackson.com/