Lingering Light

Each Yom Tov comes with its light. For example, when Pesach comes each of us has the ability to leave our own Mitzrayim, our constraints. When Shavuos comes we each receive the Torah anew. Following Yom Tov we have אסרו חג.[1] The Kedushas Levi tells us that this is a day to tie up the spiritual lights of the Yom Tov and as it saysאסרו חג בעבותים....[2] In this way we can grasp what we say in the Shemoneh Esrei of Yom Tov והשאנו..ברכת מועדיך as והשאנו is related to משא וטעינה, carry and load, since we want to take the light with us, the ברכת מועדיך.

In light of this we can comprehend that which it states by Matan Torah וקדשתם היום ומחר, as מחר can also refer to the future, as in כי ישאלך בנך מחר, since we want to take this light with us for the remainder of the year.[3]

Rabbi Alt merited to learn under the tutelage of R’ Mordechai Friedlander Ztz”l for close to five years. He received Semicha from R’ Zalman Nechemia Goldberg. Rabbi Alt has written on numerous topics for various websites and publications. He lives with his wife and family in a suburb of Yerushalayim where he studies, writes and teaches. The author is passionate about teaching Jews of all levels of observance.