Hayom Yom 23 Tishrei - Those who support Torah draw spiritual influence from G‑d’s “head”

אֵין קוֹרְאִים בַּתּוֹרָה בַּלַּיְלָה There is no public Torah Reading at night. נְשִׂיאַת כַּפַּיִם בְּשַׁחֲרִית The Priestly Blessing is recited [only] at the Morning Service. אֵין נוֹהֲגִים לִפְרוֹשׂ טַלִּית עַל רָאשֵׁי הָעוֹלִים לְחָתָן תּוֹרָה אוֹ לְחָתָן בְּרֵאשִׁית It is not our custom to spread a tallis as a canopy over the head of the Bridegroom(s) of the Torah or the Bridegroom(s) of Bereishis. גַּם הָעוֹלֶה לַתּוֹרָה אוֹמֵר חֲזַק חֲזַק וְנִתְחַזֵּק The person who is called to the reading of the concluding passage of the Torah says the words Chazak, chazak, venis’chazeik together with the rest of the congregation. שיעורים: חומש: ברכה,שישי ושביעי עם פירש"י Chumash: B'racha, Shishi and Shevi'i with Rashi. בְּשִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה תק"מ אָמַר רַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵן On Simchas Torah, 5540 (1779), the Alter Rebbe declared: עֵץ חַיִּים הִיא לַמַּחֲזִיקִים בָּהּ “It [i.e., the Torah] is a tree of life to those who hold fast to it” — אֵלּוּ בַּעֲלֵי הֲשָׂגָה הַלּוֹמְדִים תּוֹרָה this phrase refers to “masters of understanding,” the intellectual scholars who study the Torah. וְתוֹמְכֶיהָ מְאוּשָּׁר “Those who support it are fortunate” — אֵלּוּ בַּעֲלֵי עֲבוֹדָה הָעוֹסְקִים בַּתּוֹרָה these are the “masters of Divine service” who engage in Torah study. מְאוּשָּׁר — גְלִיקְלאַךְ On the term “fortunate” (מאושר), כִּדְאִיתָא בְּזֹהַר (חֵלֶק ג' נג. ב) אַל תִּקְרֵי מְאוּשָּׁר אֶלָּא מֵרֹאשׁוֹ the Zohar (III, 53b) states: “Do not read the word as me’ushar; rather, [by transposing its letters,] read it as meirosho (,מראשו meaning ‘from His head’).” דְּעַל יְדֵי עֲבוֹדָתָם מַמְשִׁיכִים מֵרֹאשׁוֹ Through their Divine service, these individuals draw down spiritual influence from G‑d’s “head,” הַיְּינוּ מִפְּנִימִיּוּת הָאֵין סוֹף בָּרוּךְ הוּא, from the innermost dimensions of the Ein Sof. וּכְמַעֲלַת הָרֶגֶל הַמְקַיֵּם אֶת הָרֹאשׁ דַּוְקָא. This is an instance of the distinctive quality of the foot, in that it supports the head. Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English For questions and follow-up: [email protected]