The common custom is that shuls have a kiddush on Shabbos Breishis, generally sponsored by the "chosson breishis" from Simchas Torah, and it is usually a bit more festive of a kiddush than what a standard kiddush might be.
Kikar is reporting that a group of shul beadles, the gabbaim of many shuls, sent a question to Rav Yitzchak Zilbershtein, asking if it is appropriate for the shuls to make the kiddush on Shabbos Breishis this week, considering the tense security situation and the difficult situation so many of our brothers and sisters find themselves in directly perhaps it is not appropriate to be celebrating.
Rav Zilbershtein respnded that the shuls should make the kiddush as planned on Shabbos Breishis but before and after the kiddush the congregations should say some tehillim for the healing of the injured and for the return of the captives and for the general salvation of the people of Israel.
Rav Zilbershtein added and explained that at a regular kiddush there can be leitzanus, levity and a fun atmosphere which is not appropriate in these days. The simcha of finishing the Torah and starting anew should be held but by adding tehillim before and after it will give the kiddush an atmosphere of more seriousness. The merit of the simcha of TOrah should/will protect the nation
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When the news broke, I couldn't do Simchas Torah anymore. How could I smile, sing, and dance knowing that at the same time thousands of Jews were being terrified, tortured, raped and murdered? Shouldn't we have stopped everything, grabbed Tehillim books and cried out to God to save our family?
ReplyDeleteAnd I know some said "Nothing you can do but you do have an obligation to be happy on Yom Tov!" And that struck me as cruel. People who were so intent on enjoying themselves they made themselves cold to the suffering of our family.
There's a mitzvah called Yibum and the Chazal made it pretty much obsolete centuries ago because it involved a difficult thing - having sex with a specific kavannah - the guy wasn't supposed to think "I'm having sex! This is awesome!" but "I am only doing this to fufill the mitzvah of Yibum" and honestly, no guy ever did that, which meant the act was one of z'nus, not kiyum mitzvah.
I felt that dancing on Simchas Torah was like that. They were up there to have fun, not with the kavannah that their dancing should be worship that would inspire God to help our family.