We know that Chazal are very excited about the joy of the Simchas Beis HaShoeva. "One who has not seen the Simchas Beis HaShoeva has not seen joy in his life". The following basic explanation is given: On the second day of creation G-d separated between the upper waters and the lower waters. The upper waters remained spiritual while the lower waters formed our oceans and rivers.
The waters designated to be in this world protested, "We too want to be in front of King!" They were saying that being created so close to Hashem only to be sent away makes their existence no longer worth while. The consolation that they were given was the unique time of year - Succos - when they were brought up on the altar and returned to be "in front of the King". The Simchas Beis HaShoeva is the actualization of that age old promise and as such is a cause for great joy.
Really?! This celebration comes to negate all other happiness in life? "One who has not seen the Simchas Beis HaShoeva has not seen joy in his life" is a pretty dramatic statement. Let the water dance, but what does this have to do with me?
Rav Hutner in the Pachad Yitzchak explains that the separation of the waters is the source of man's struggles and accomplishments in this world. The Passuk says about the second day of creation, "חלק מעשיו ומלך עליהם", He divided His creations and became King over them. Yet the Passuk of the sixth day says, ה' מלך" - Hashem became King." Yet it was on this day that man was created. Man, the only creation who chooses Hashem as King (as we experienced on Rosh HaShana).
Chazal say that these two creations of the Kingdom are connected one to the other. Separating the higher waters from the lower waters gave the lower waters the opportunity to struggle and fight their way back. The satisfaction of coming close after having been pushed away is far deeper than always being close. And the honor and pleasure that Hashem receives from such an elevation makes everything worth while.
Says Rav Hutner, man as well is created from higher and lower waters. We are soul and body. The descent into this world is traumatic for the soul. It too cries out, "We want to stand before the King! Why send us away?" נח לו לאדם שלא נברא. This is the sound of the Shofar that we blow on the day man was created - Rosh HaShana. The Shofar blasts are described as "Genuchei Ganach" and "Yelulei Yalil", moaning and wailing (see this very connected article). The soul as it is thrusted into the earthly realm complains just as the lower waters did.
But when we see the powerful significance of the waters returning upwards, and the unique pleasure that Hashem receives from their struggle to come home, all of a sudden all of Olam HaZeh makes sense to us too. Man too can ascend to great heights. And the levels he reaches are so much greater because of what he has to overcome to achieve them.
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