אות - רצט

It was my custom to see the Rebbe every year after Simchat Torah. He would always ask me if I truly rejoiced on the festival. Many times he told me how the community celebrated in his house and how much pleasure he derived from their joy.

Once in the middle of the year the Rebbe spoke to me about Simchat Torah. He asked me, “Do you now feel joy in your heart then? Or at least do you feel this happiness at another time during the year?”

Thank God, in His great kindness, He helped me to rejoice wholeheartedly many times during the year. I felt a joy so great that it simply cannot be communicated to another. For the joy of being a Jew, of being of Jewish descent and believing in God, depends on how much one ponders it and cannot be expressed (see “ His Wisdom ” #1) . This is written about elsewhere. Especially the clinging to God at a time of joy, that even the least Jew feels, simply cannot be put into words.

The Rebbe very much wanted us to be joyous all year round, particularly on Simchat Torah, Purim, Shabbat and festivals. The Rebbe told me that once on Simchat Torah, he was so overjoyed that he danced all by himself in his room.