The Torah begins with the following words (Breisheet 1:1-4):
When God began creating heaven and earth, the earth was void and desolate, there was darkness on the face of the deep, and the spirit of God moved over the waters. God said “Let there be light.” And there was light. Good saw the light: it was good; and God separated the light from the darkness.
In Midrash Raba 2:5, Rabbi Abahu and Rabbi Chiya Raba were engaged in a discussion:
Rabbi Abahu said: From the very beginning of the world’s creation, God foresaw the deeds of the righteous and the deeds of the wicked. Therefore, “The earth was void and desolate” alludes to the deeds of the wicked: “God said ‘Let there be light,’” to the actions of the righteous. I still might not know in which of these He delights, the former or the latter. But from what is written, “Good saw the light: it was good” it follows that He desires the deeds of the righteous, and not the deeds of the wicked.
Rabbi Chiya Raba said: From the very beginning of the world’s creation, God foresaw the Beit HaMikdash (Temple) built, destroyed and rebuilt. “When God began creating” symbolizes the Temple built, as you read (Yishayahu 51:16) “I have placed My words in your mouth and covered you in My hand’s shade, planting the skies, laying down the earth, and saying to Zion: ‘You are my people.’”
Rabbi Chiya Raba continues: “The earth was void and desolate” alludes to the Beit HMikdash destroyed as it says in Yirmiyahu 4:23: “I gazed at the land, it was void and desolate.” “God said ‘Let there be light’” rebuilt and firmly established in the days of Mashiach, as it says in Yishayahu 60:1-2: “Rise, give light, for your light has come: the glory of God shines over you, for darkness may cover the earth, the clouds shroud nations, but over you, God will be shining His glory manifest over you.”
Exactly a year ago on the Jewish calendar, on what was supposed to be the happiest day of the year, when we rejoice with the Torah, the most evil Hamas terrorists from Gaza attacked innocent Israelis who were trying to peacefully celebrate. However, instead of evil overtaking good, the Jewish community both in Israel and abroad showed the world that no matter what we have faced, our light will continue to shine. Israelis who were kidnapped from the Nova festival returned to Israel stating “we will dance again.” They did not give up or let evil take over despite everything that they went through.
This Simchat Torah, we too must dance and not let the hatred of our enemies ruin our holiday again this year.
Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon recommends that this year we dedicate each of the Hakafot to give honor to a population that has been affected by the war: the soldiers, the hostages, those who have been injured, the miluim (reserves) families, the Jewish people who are facing anti-Semitism, those who lost their lives and the families that they left behind and the evacuated families.
May we follow the path of the righteous to do as many good deeds as we can, bringing light into the world, laying the foundations for the rebuilding of the Beit HaMikdash and ultimately bringing the Mashiach speedily in out days.
