We celebrate the Torah twice a year: on Simchas Torah and Shavuos. The Sfas Emes taught that on Shavuos, the Torah of that year is given anew. Each year, a new portion of the Torah, which was given at Sinai, reaches its time to be revealed. This includes all the Torah insights for the coming year for all the people of Israel. Our ability to renew and be renewed in Torah throughout the year depends on receiving this portion of the renewed Torah that descends to the world.
As preparation for the new Torah, one must engage with the old, internalize it, and study it deeply. The Torah that we learn on Shavuos is an in-depth engagement with the Torah that we have studied until now, enabling new insights.
On Simchas Torah, however, we celebrate the new Torah that we have worked hard to attain since the previous Shavuos. The Lubavitcher Rebbe taught that we do not celebrate the Torah with great joy on Shavuos, as the joy is not complete since the Torah we received on Shavuos was given as a gif…
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