Crying for the Missing Letters of the Sefer Torah

On a cold and rainy night in 2014 the Simchas Beis Hashoeva of Rav Avorhom Schorr was moved from the Sukkah into the Beis Medrash. There was lively music and dancing, of course, and Rav Schorr spoke multiple times. This clip is an excerpt from one of his talks that night. I am very thankful to have been there on this particular night – Rav Schorr broke down in tears over the following message.

Rav Schorr says that on Erev Yom Kippur we bring the Torahs out of the Aron in order for us all to apologize to them for not keeping the mitzvos and following the words written inside the Torah. Rav Schorr hints to an idea that, unfortunately, when we don't keep the mitzvos then the corresponding letters and pesukim in the Torah of those mitzvos disappear and only when we are keeping the mitzvah can they return. So, with our actions we can quote on quote pasul the Sefer Torah! Rav Schorr begins to cry over the thought of the Sefer Torah being pasul because of our misdeeds. He says that when we bring the Torahs out on Erev Yom Kippur we say "Ohr Zarua LaTzaddik" which is a remez to the 4 Species of Sukkos - the Lulav & Esrog. On Sukkus we take the Lulav & Esrog and tell Hashem that we are ready. We are ready to make sure the Torah stays whole and is never missing any letters.

Rav Schorr’s words and emotions are a call to action for us. When you are dancing on Simchas Torah tap into the intense emotional connection Rav Schorr has with Hashem and the Torah, meditate over it, and daven for it. We should all be blessed with a beautiful year of Ahavas Hashem and Ahavas Hatorah.

in English