Shemini Atzeret the Peak of Joy

 

As we noted in the Divrei Torah for Rosh haShana and Yom Kippur, Rebbe Natan, the spiritual heir of Rebbe Naḥman of Breslov, systematically presents his thesis that the special days of the month of Tishrei are all focused on "revealing the sanctity of Eretz Yisrael, to allow us to merit coming to the Land."

Shemini Atzeret (and Simḥat Torah), which completes the special days of Tishrei, also is the pinnacle of "the time of our joy." The connection to revealing the sanctity of the Land lies in the fact that "we must ascend to Eretz Yisrael in joy, as we pray 'Bring us up to our Land in joy' [musaf prayer], and as Scripture [Isaiah 35:10] states 'and they shall come to Zion with song, with eternal joy upon their heads'."

Rebbe Natan writes that Shemini Atzeret/Simḥat Torah "constitutes the essential completion of acceptance of God's monarchy, which hints at the Land of Israel, may we be privileged to enter her speedily in our days. Shemini Atzeret) is truly great, since the essence of joy is in capturing the Land of Israel, as the verses [Deuteronomy 12:1,11] state 'When you come into the Land … You will rejoice with all the goodness …'"

That is, Shemini Atzeret is the peak of joy of the festivals of Tishrei, and the essential joy for Jews is coming to the Land of Israel. Thus, on Shemini Atzeret we complete the process of revealing the sanctity of the Land, which is the underlying theme of the festivals of Tishrei.

We may add to Rebbe Natan's insightful comments that as Simḥat Torah, Shemini Atzeret has an additional connection to the sanctity of the Land. Thus writes Rabbi Meir Simḥa of Dvinsk:

From the day our holy Torah Was given, prophecy has unceasingly mandated settling the Land, and there is no Torah portion in which the Land is not mentioned, (emphasis mine) and even concerning mitzvot which are personal obligations (and not dependent upon the Land), the verses declare "When He brings you to the Land" – "When you come to the Land" – fulfill this mitzva that you will enter the Land [Babylonian Talmud, Kiddushin 37b].  Even concerning mitzvot which the intellect mandates and which apply in all places and at all times, such as respecting one's parents, the Torah states " … in order that your days be lengthened on the Land that the Lord, your God, is giving you."

Approximately a century and a half prior to the days of Rabbi Meir Simḥa, Rabbi Ya'akov Emdin wrote "Eretz Yisrael is the peg upon which all of Torah hangs."  [Introduction to Siddur Bet Ya'akov, p. 22]

            It is as clear as the sun that Torah and the Land of Israel are interconnected and complete each other, and therefore Simḥat Torah is certainly also the time of the joy of Eretz Yisrael.