Hakafos Shniyos 5765, Kfar Chabad

00:46 Speaker 1 Chag sameach, and welcome to the distinguished crowd gathered here for the central second hakafos in Kfar Chabad: those here at the Beis Menachem synagogue, the thousands on their way, and all the many listeners on Radio Kol Chai. The second hakafos in Kfar Chabad have become a tradition of unity and togetherness. Tonight we will see Jews from every walk of life and every part of the country—men, women, and children—rejoicing together in the joy of the Torah. We also join our fellow Jews throughout the world, for tonight is Simchas Torah for them. We are honored to open the evening with a blessing from the local rabbi, the rabbi of Kfar Chabad, Rabbi Mordechai Shmuel Ashkenazi shlita. Please.

01:51 Speaker 2 Welcome to the second hakafos here in Kfar Chabad. For years, it has been a Chabad tradition to hold hakafos here in Kfar Chabad, the center of Chabad chassidim in our Holy Land, especially as the festival of Sukkos comes to an end. This marks the conclusion of the festivals of Tishrei—Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkos, and Simchas Torah. As the Likkutei Torah by the author of the Tanya, the founder of the Chabad approach, explains, these days are like a father whose son has disappeared, and he searches for him. The son wandered into a forest. When he heard the sound of the shofar, he understood which way to go, how to find his father—and how his father could find him. It began on Rosh Hashanah and ended in great joy when the son found his father and the father found his son. They came together, they farbrenged together, and naturally their joy was great. So too with the joy of Sukkos, of which it is said, “His right hand embraces me”: the father embraces his son. The joy is doubled and redoubled. It is our joy, Hakadosh Boruch Hu’s joy in the Jewish people, and the Jewish people’s joy in Hakadosh Boruch Hu. The father’s joy at finding his son; the son’s joy at finding his father. And together, on Sukkos, they rejoiced with great joy. How do we bring that joy down into our lives? How do we live with it throughout the year? Through Torah study. The holy Zohar says, “Three bonds are bound together”: three things are connected to one another—the Jewish people, the Torah, and Hakadosh Boruch Hu. The connection between the Jewish people and Hakadosh Boruch Hu is through the holy Torah. The connection between the Torah and Hakadosh Boruch Hu is through the Jewish people who study it, and the connection between the Jewish people and the Torah is through Hakadosh Boruch Hu, who gives the Torah. And so, right at the start of the new year, which should bring us blessing, we express this great joy through

04:46 Speaker 2 dancing and rejoicing. As the Rebbe writes in his holy sichos, on the night of the festival we recite the blessing, “Who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this time.” The blessing is not only over Kiddush, not only over the day, but also over the Torah: today we merited to complete the Five Books of the Torah with the verse “before the eyes of all Israel,” and to begin the Torah reading anew with “In the beginning, G-d created.” And so this joy of the second hakafos is a joy in studying the Torah and reading it throughout the year. Our holy Torah is called the Torah of truth and the Torah of life. It is the light of life; through the holy Torah, both spiritual and material life are bestowed upon the Jewish people. So tonight let us rejoice in the joy of the Torah. Let us rejoice in the Jewish people’s joy with the Torah, together with the third partner, Hakadosh Boruch Hu, who gives the Torah and loves His people Israel.

06:00 Speaker 3 Thank you very much to the rabbi of Kfar Chabad, Rabbi Mordechai Shmuel Ashkenazi shlita.

06:11 Speaker 2 Please, Hashem, save us. Please, Hashem, grant us success; please, Hashem, answer us on the day we call. G-d of all spirits, save us; Searcher of hearts, grant us success; mighty Redeemer, answer us on the day we call. The Torah of Hashem is perfect, restoring the soul. A psalm of David. Give to Hashem, you mighty ones, give to Hashem glory and strength. Give to Hashem the glory of His name; bow before Hashem in holy splendor. The voice of Hashem is upon the waters; the G-d of glory thunders; Hashem is upon the mighty waters. For the conductor, with instrumental music, a psalm, a song. May G-d be gracious to us and bless us; may He shine His face upon us, forever. Please, by the power of Your great right hand, release the bound. A world of kindness shall be built.

07:19 Speaker 3 We now begin the first hakafah with Yossi Berger and his orchestra.

07:38 Speaker 2 Oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy, oy. Rejoice and be glad on Simchas Torah, and give honor to the Torah. Rejoice and be glad on Simchas Torah, and give honor to the Torah. Rejoice and be glad on Simchas Torah, and give honor to the Torah. Rejoice and be glad on Simchas Torah, and give honor to the Torah. Rejoice and be glad on Simchas Torah, and give honor to the Torah. Rejoice and be glad on Simchas Torah, and give honor to the Torah. Rejoice and be glad on Simchas Torah, and give honor to the Torah. Rejoice and be glad on Simchas Torah, and give honor to the Torah. Enlighten our eyes with Your Torah, bind our hearts to Your mitzvos, and unite our hearts to love and fear Your name. Enlighten our eyes with Your Torah, bind our hearts to Your mitzvos, and unite our hearts to love and fear Your name. May we never be ashamed, humiliated, or stumble, forever and ever. May we never be ashamed, humiliated, or stumble, forever and ever. Enlighten our eyes with Your Torah, bind our hearts to Your mitzvos, and unite our hearts to love and fear Your name. May we never be ashamed, humiliated, or stumble, forever and ever. May we never be ashamed, humiliated, or stumble, forever and ever. May we never be ashamed or humiliated, [unclear], forever [unclear]. [unclear]. And I shall love