Today is the last day of Sukkot called Hoshana Rabba. Our relationship with H”S has been renewed in Rosh Hashanah, sanctified in Yom Kipur, celebrated in Sukkot and consummated on Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah ( in Israel these two holidays are celebrated in one day of Yom Tov but in the Diaspora we celebrate them beginning tonight till Tuesday night).
The observance of Hoshana Rabba, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah is the pinnacle in our love towards G-d.
There are three levels in which we can show our love to someone else or G-d.
1. If you love someone dearly, anything your beloved asks you will do, even if it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient.
2. If you love someone even more than that, you don’t wait to be asked, you respond to the slightest hint in order to satisfy your beloved.
3. If you love someone with all your heart, you don’t even wait for hints, you anticipate what might bring your beloved pleasure and you just do it.
The third level of love is specially felt in Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. No where in the Torah we are commanded to dance with the Torah, but nevertheless we hug and dance and sing with the Torah in pure Joy.
We do this out of our purest and deepest love for G-d.
Experts from 60 Days by Rabbi Simon Jacobson
