Shuvoo Newsletter

Issue 5 – February 14, 2006

 

Thoughts on Ancient Times & Current Events by Ashirah Yosefah

 

 

 

A DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE

Reflections on a Hachnasat Torah & Valentines Day

 

A public procession with musicians lovingly escorts a Sefer Torah

under a Chuppah through Jerusalem streets to its new home.

(© Ashirah Yosefah Photo)

 

 

In many countries around the world people are celebrating Valentines Day today; a day when thoughts turn to love and romance, or at least the retailers hope they do. 

 

Valentine’s Day actually contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman traditions.  A Catholic priest is the namesake of the Christian version of Valentine’s Day.  He was put to death by Emperor Claudius II around 270 CE because he had defied the Emperor’s ban on young men marrying … apparently unmarried men were thought to make better soldiers.  Priest Valentine married couples secretly, got caught, was jailed, fell in love with a fair maid while in jail (or so they say), wrote her a parting letter the eve of his execution, and hence the Western World has Valentines Day.

 

However, according to The History Channel, the reason for the institution of Saint Valentine’s Day may actually have been part of efforts by the Christian church to 'christianize' celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping them out and then sprinkling salt and spelt throughout their interiors. Lupercalia, which began on February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.  The details of its celebratory rituals are lurid to say the least.

 

Whatever its true sources, it goes without saying that Valentines Day has made its way into many hearts, homes and stores throughout the Western World since its official declaration by Pope Gelasius around 498 CE.  At first, it was a Christian celebration, but then its popularity spread and in today’s global blending of cultures, most people would be surprised if you told them it was either a Christian or a pagan holiday.  It’s become a generic event.  The question one might ask is, ‘Have the sentiments it celebrates become generic as well?’  I could not help but reflect upon a totally different type of love as I participated in an event here in Jerusalem last Thursday evening … an event that incorporated many elements traditionally associated with weddings and love:  a chuppah, guests, music, dancing, flowers, and a meal.  The event?  A Hachnasat Torah.

 

“Hachnasat” is a Hebrew word which means “hospitality” or “provision”.  In Judaism, we have Hachnasat Orchim, hospitality to guests, and Hachnasat Kallah, to provide for a bride, both of which are considered mitzvahs of great merit.  A Hachnasat Torah is a celebration to honor, receive and provide for the receiving of a Sefer Torah by a congregation or institution.  The Sefer Torah is treated like a Kallah, like a bride.  It is escorted to its new place of residence by a public procession, carried lovingly under a chuppah – a marriage canopy, with the guests following behind, complete with music and dancing.  Cars passing by slow down and honk their horns, people roll down their car windows and cheer. 

 

In the case of last week’s event, the Hachnasat Torah was held by Tal Torah, a Torah learning institute for women and children located in Jerusalem.  As a Board member of Tal Torah, I was aware of the many details that went into planning the event.  The utmost attention and care had to be given to learning all of the Halacha that applies to having, handling, caring for a Sefer Torah.  Nearly as much preparation went into the Hachnasat Torah as would be done for a wedding.  Invitations were sent out, the community at large was invited, a meal was prepared, musicians and photographers were arranged, even a ‘home’ was prepared for the Sefer Torah – a beautiful Aron haKodesh of glowing wood designed to bear a striking resemblance to the entrance of the Temple.  Guests to the Hachnasat Torah each had opportunity to dance with the Torah cradled in their arms or raised joyously over their heads before it was placed in the Aron haKodesh.  Special prayers and loving words were said, then the Sefer Torah was placed inside its new home and the guests enjoyed a celebratory meal.  Leaving the event and making my way down the stairwell bedecked with garlands of fresh flowers, I walked out onto the street and passed by local stores with windows dressed for Valentines Day sales.  ‘What a contrast’, I thought to myself.

 

On the street, men linked arms and danced with the Torah.

(© Ashirah Yosefah Photo)

 

We live in a world filled with commercialism.  Media, marketing and commerce assault our senses in a constant battle for influence.  ‘Love’ has been commercialized and, sadly, desensitized and demoralized.  Yet here in the midst of Jerusalem, as the dusk turned to nightfall, a spark of light glowed, speaking of a different kind of love, a pure and unaffected love for the Word of Hashem – a reverence that solicits acts of hospitality, provision and simcha paralleling a wedding.

 

In Derech Hashem (The Way of G-d), Moshe Chaim Luzzato writes:

 

“Of all the Influences that G-d causes to emanate from Him for the sake of His creations, one is higher than all the others, being more dear and precious than anything else that G-d created.  This Influence is the closest thing to G-d Himself that can be found in Creation, its loftiness and excellence resembling G-d’s own to some degree.  Through this Influence, G-d enables creations to actually partake of some of His Glory and Perfection.  This Influence, however, was bound by G-d to yet another creation – the Torah – which G-d designed specifically to carry this Influence to the physical world.  In practice, the Influence arrives by two activities, namely, the speaking and understanding of the words of Torah.”  (ibid, page 255)

 

Simply put, by reciting the Torah words and grasping their meaning, man draws down the Divine Influence upon himself.  Turning the Torah itself, we read: 

 

“Surely this Instruction which I enjoin upon you this day is not too baffling for you, nor is it beyond reach. … No, the thing is very close to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to observe it.” (Devarim 30, 11, 14)

 

The Tanya, Likutei Amarim, Chapter 17, page 71, connects the latter portion of these verses to love of G-d:

 

“At first glance, the statement that ‘The thing is very nigh unto thee … in thy heart” seems to be contrary to our experience (yet the Torah is eternal). For it is not a ‘very nigh thing’ to change one’s heart from mundane desires to a sincere love of G-d.  Indeed, it is stated in the Gemara, ‘Is fear [of Heaven] a small thing?  How much more so – love.”

 

As the world scurries about this week with another Christian/Roman/pagan/retailers celebration, may we also fix our hearts and minds on a higher love that defines the ultimate purpose of mankind – to love and serve our Creator.

 

“G-d is present in the words of Torah.

Enter into the words,

Speaking them with all your strength.

Your soul will then meet G-d in the Word –

That soul which is itself a part of G-d above.

 

From:  Your Word Is Fire,

The Hasidic Masters on Contemplative Prayer, pg. 47