The Two Circles of Jewish Life

Rav Bendavid, Parshat Eikev 5786

The Mishnah makes a striking observation about the meaning of Tu B'Av:

"לא היו ימים טובים לישראל כחמישה עשר באב וכיום הכיפורים... שבהן בנות ירושלים יוצאות בכלי לבן שאולין... וחולות בכרמים." (תענית כו:)

The Mishnah describes the daughters of Jerusalem going out to dance together במחולות, in circles.

Why does the Mishnah emphasize the circle?

The Bnei Yissaschar, the great Chassidic commentator, points us to another passage at the very end of Masechet Ta'anit:

"עתיד הקב"ה לעשות מחול לצדיקים... וכל אחד ואחד מראה באצבעו ואומר: 'הנה אלקינו זה קיווינו לו... נגילה ונשמחה בישועתו.'" (תענית לא.)

According to the Bnei Yissaschar, these two passages are deeply connected. A circle has no beginning and no end. No one stands above anyone else. Every person occupies a different place, yet everyone stands the same distance from the center.

The Bnei Yissaschar suggests that this is the deeper meaning of the circle. Our greatest vision for Jewish life is one in which there is no jealousy, no competition, and no need to compare ourselves to one another. When Hashem stands at the center (כביכול), every Jew can rejoice in the unique place that has been given to them.

In classic Chassidic fashion, the Bnei Yissaschar also points out that the 15th letter of the Hebrew alphabet is samech - ס, which is a circle!

But there is another circle in Jewish life.

In Al HaTeshuvah, Rav Soloveitchik notes that the idea of teshuvah first appears in Tanach in the description of Shmuel HaNavi:

"וְהָלַךְ מִדֵּי שָׁנָה בְּשָׁנָה... וְשָׁפַט אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל... וּתְשֻׁבָתוֹ הָרָמָתָה כִּי שָׁם בֵּיתוֹ." (שמואל א ז:טז–יז)

The Navi describes how Shmuel traveled throughout the country, visiting the Jewish people, teaching Torah, judging the nation, and providing spiritual leadership. Yet after every journey, he always returned home to Ramah:  "וּתְשֻׁבָתוֹ הָרָמָתָה כִּי שָׁם בֵּיתוֹ."

Rav Soloveitchik explains that this is the essence of teshuvah. Teshuvah is not merely about regretting the past. It is about returning home to our values, to our spiritual roots, and to the people Hashem created us to become.

There is something remarkable about a circle. At first, every step seems to take you farther away from where you started. Yet if you keep walking, the very path that appeared to lead you away ultimately becomes the path that brings you back home. Even when we stray far from our core values, we are always in a process of return. 

The movement of the Jewish calendar is itself instructive. 

We leave behind the circle of Tu B'Av and immediately begin the journey toward Elul with it’s own circle. 

First, we are challenged to build a community without jealousy or competition, where every person has a unique place around a shared center. Then we are challenged to return to our own deepest values and to find our way back to the people Hashem created us to be.

Perhaps that is the message of these two circles. Judaism asks us to do both. To build a community centered on Hashem, and to build lives that always find their way back to Him.

A Personal Note

B’h I will be away on break visiting family from August 3–24. Rabbanit Etta will be away from August 10–24.

We will both remain available for emergencies and other important matters. During this time, I hope to check my phone less frequently, with the goal of responding to important messages once each day.

Wishing everyone a restful break, a wonderful Shabbat, and an uplifting beginning to the month of Elul.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Ben David