Sicha, Simchas Torah Night 5711
A. Circumcision Overrides Shabbat
In this week’s Torah reading, we learn about the mitzvah of circumcision (Source 1). The Talmud infers from the verse that circumcision overrides Shabbat. (Source 2)
Communal offerings also override Shabbat (Source 3), because they occur in the Holy Temple and are a communal requirement. Circumcision, however, is not a communal obligation, nor does it take place in the Holy Temple, yet it still overrides Shabbat.
Jewish law rules that it is forbidden to transgress in order to help another do a mitzvah (Source 4). If so, how may a mohel desecrate Shabbat to circumcise a child? This is even more perplexing considering that the mohel is an adult and obligated in mitzvot, while the child is not. Moreover, the child could just as well be circumcised a day later.
B. The Process of the Soul’s Entry
Citing the Alter Rebbe, the Rebbe says that although the soul integrates fully with the body upon reaching bar and bat mitzvah age, the process begins at the circumcision. To allow that to happen, the mohel must have self-sacrifice and be ready to violate Shabbat to circumcise the child.
This recalls the story of when the Alter Rebbe, on Yom Kippur, went to the city’s outskirts, kindled a fire, and cooked for a lone new mother to save her life. (Source 5)
C. Real Impact is Only With Self-Sacrifice
Circumcision, which ushers in the G-dly soul of a child, can only be performed by a mohel who is prepared to sacrifice his own (spiritual) life for it. A mohel who avoids violating Shabbat cannot circumcise on a Sunday either, because a mohel who is unwilling to sacrifice cannot facilitate such a revelation.
The lesson is that when we want to influence others, we can only succeed if we act with self-sacrifice.
