1

Tonight, the celebration of Simchas Beis HaShoevah should be with greater power and greater intensity, because this is the third night of celebration and its potential is enhanced by the celebrations of the previous nights.

The first night of Simchas Beis HaShoevah was characterized by a unique influence, for it was the night in which the full moon of the month of Tishrei shone. Thus it represents a perfect state of that month.

One of the interpretations of the name Tishrei is "beginning," i.e., Tishrei represents the beginning of the new year and "charts the course" for the entire year which follows. It is desirable that this will influence the totality of a person's thought, speech, and deed to the extent that the Torah will be able to give testimony concerning him or to borrow a phrase from the Rambam, "He who knows hidden matters will testify."

Ideally, there should be no need for such testimony, because we will be able to see the positive nature of the person's thought, speech, and deed. Although it is written "A person does not know what is in his colleague's heart," when his colleague reveals his feelings through his happiness, it is possible to be conscious of them. In such an instance, the testimony of "He who knows hidden matters" will be necessary only to make known that the positive qualities which a person expresses in his deeds and actions are also representative of his inner self.

The above is particularly relevant to Simchas Beis HaShoevah when each person takes a leadership role[104] and shows other people how they too can increase their thought, speech, and deed.

This will lead to Jewish unity, a concept related to Sukkos being "the harvest festival," when the crops are gathered together. The latter can also refer to the gathering in of our thoughts, words, and deed. Moreover, this relates to the gathering in, not only of the fruits -- the thoughts, words, and deeds -- of the present year, but also of those of previous years.

In this context, the testimony mentioned above refers to bringing out what is hidden, expressing in a manifest way the inner positive qualities one possesses. Furthermore, according to the Torah, testimony has the ability to bring about a change in the existence of the world, establishing a new source of positive influence.

The power of a Jew's testimony is reflected in the fixing of the calendar. G-d and the entire spiritual realms were dependent on the testimony of witnesses and it was their testimony that determined when the holidays would be celebrated.

The celebration of Simchas Beis HaShoevah must continually increase. Furthermore, since "happiness breaks down barriers," this celebration should extend beyond all limits. Thus, this happiness will serve as a source of happiness for the entire year to come and as implied by our Sages' statements concerning Simchas Beis HaShoevah, seeing such celebrations generates the potential to appreciate happiness in all things.

The celebrations of the present night are particularly significant for the celebrations of the third night of Simchas Beis HaShoevah will precipitate the revelation of the Third Beis HaMikdash, "the Sanctuary of G-d established by Your hands." We will proceed directly "on the clouds of heavens" to Eretz Yisrael, to Jerusalem, and to the Beis HaMikdash. And there, we will celebrate Simchas Beis HaShoevah in a manner of growing and increasing light.

[The Rebbe Shlita concluded the sichah with blessings for the present year according to the order of the Alef-beis.]

   

Notes:

104. (Back to text) Needless to say, assuming such a position should not infringe on others.