From Awe to Joy

There is always some need to double and triple up Torah Tidbits issues around the holidays of Tishrei, but exactly what combines with what depends upon which of the LO ADU days Rosh HaShana actually falls on. This year - the rarest of the four possibilities, Yom Kippur is joined by Sukkot (or vice versa) with Haazinu

Hilleled (i.e. sandwiched) between them.

The obvious choice of topics for the Lead Tidbit is the contrast between the Yamim Nora'im and Zman Simchateinu and specifically between the doing of mitzvot in general and T'shuva in particular, motivated by Fear of G-d and motivated by Love of G-d.

YIR'A and AHAVA are each mitzvot among the 613. They are both on the short list of 24/7 mitzvot - mitzvot that apply constantly. And they clearly go side-by-side when it comes to our motivation to follow G-d and live a Torah life.

Every time - and there are many - that the Torah warns us what will happen if we turn away from G-d, it precedes the warning with promises of good for our keeping the mitzvot and following G-d.

To oversimplify the concept and basic belief of Reward and Punishment, we can say that Punishment is surely the partner of serving G-d out of fear, and Reward is at least in the direction of Ahavat HaShem (but only in the direction, not IT, as we shall see).

Elul, Rosh HaShana (Yom HaDin), Aseret Y'mei T'shuva, Yom Kippur instill Fear of G-d in the individual and hopefully stimulate a sincere repentance motivated by YIR'A. One can make a case for the presence of AHAVA as a factor in the Yamim Nora'im, but it seems to be eclipsed by the dread, awe, or whatever you want to call Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur.

This is the vital role that Sukkot plays, especially following so soon after the Yamim Nora'im. True simcha allows the feelings and motivation of AHAVA to come front and center as the genuine force and reason for our living a Torah life... and for doing T'shuva because of our joy and love of G-d and Torah.

The Rambam, in Hilchot T'shuva, spends chapters on the details of Repentance, chapters on the concept of Free Will (without which, T'shuva has no meaning), chapters on Reward and Punishment, with an extra focus on the world to come. In the context of Free Will and accountability, T'shuva is very real.

Then the Rambam finishes off Hilchot T'shuva - finishes off the whole Sefer Mada, and leads into the next book of Mishne Torah - Sefer Ahava, by telling us: Don't do mitzvot because of the reward that is promised, and don't avoid sins because of the punishments that are threatened... study Torah, keep the mitzvot, follow G-d because it is TRUTH. And because of an all-consuming love of G-d which comes from increased knowledge of Him and His Creation. This is the goal of Tishrei's holy days. This is the goal of YAHADUT.

[The Parshat Ha'azinu Homepage]
[The TORAH tidbits Homepage] [How to use TORAH tidbits]
[About The OU/NCSY Israel Center] [About TORAH tidbits]
[www.ou.org]