לקוטי שיחות חלק ט׳ - וזאת הברכה א

Likkutei Sichos Vol. 9 – Vezos HaBerachah 1

1. When the Rambam (and similarly the Rif and Rosh) lists the Torah readings for the festivals, he mentions the reading for the last days of Sukkos. He quotes the language of the Gemara: "On the last day of the festival, we read 'All the firstborn'... and on the next day, we read 'And this is the blessing'." This is unlike all other second days of Yom Tov, where he uses the language "on the second Yom Tov" or "on the second day." Even on the last day of Pesach, where he cannot use the term "on the second Yom Tov" (since this phrase refers to the second day of Pesach), he says "on the eighth".

From this, it is implied that the connection of "And this is the blessing" to Simchas Torah is not because it is the second Yom Tov of Shemini Atzeres, but because it is "the next day" after Shemini Atzeres, meaning the day following Shemini Atzeres.

This raises a question: The reason for reading this portion on this day is because it is the second Yom Tov of Shemini Atzeres. Therefore, in Israel, where there is no "doubt about the day" and the Yom Tov of Shemini Atzeres is only one day, they do not read "And this is the blessing" on the day following Shemini Atzeres. If so, how can it be said that outside of Israel, "And this is the blessing" is read on this day because it is "the next day" after Shemini Atzeres, and not because it is the second Yom Tov of Shemini Atzeres?

The question becomes even stronger: In Israel, where there is only one day of Yom Tov, they read "And this is the blessing" on Shemini Atzeres [not "All the firstborn" as on all other festivals where they read the portion of the first Yom Tov]. This seemingly proves that the primary reading of Shemini Atzeres is "And this is the blessing." Since this is the case, the reading (outside of Israel) should emphasize even more that it is read on Simchas Torah because it is the second Yom Tov of Shemini Atzeres.

However, in practice, for all other readings of the second Yom Tov, the term "on the second" is used, indicating that the reading of that day is because it is the "second" of the "first Yom Tov" and the like. Specifically, for "And this is the blessing," the term "on the next day" is used, which indicates the opposite: that the reason "And this is the blessing" is read on Simchas Torah is not because it is the second Yom Tov of Shemini Atzeres, but because it follows Shemini Atzeres.

2. This can be understood by prefacing with the words of the Mitteler Rebbe (regarding Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah), who says that "the people of the Land of Israel mix beet soup with meat."

From this statement, it is understood that although Simchas Torah is the second Yom Tov of Shemini Atzeres, there is also an aspect in which it is distinct from it in a fundamental way. This is why the day has a unique name — "Simchas Torah" (the Joy of the Torah) — unlike most second days of Yom Tov, which are called by the same names as the first days: the second Yom Tov of Rosh Hashanah, of Sukkos, etc.

Therefore, the term "on the next day" is used regarding the reading of "And this is the blessing" because the reason it is read on Simchas Torah is indeed not because it is the second Yom Tov of Shemini Atzeres, but due to the aspect in which Simchas Torah is distinct from Shemini Atzeres, which follows Shemini Atzeres — "on the next day."

Since on this day the Torah is completed and it is fitting to rejoice at its completion, as the Tur states, and as the Rema also notes, all matters in the Torah are with utmost precision. Therefore, from the fact that on this day the Torah is completed and there is joy in its completion, it is understood that the matter of Simchas Torah...