Tears at the Simchas Beis HaSho’eivah

Rav Hutner once wrote to a talmid and recalled a simchas beis hasho’eivah they had attended together. It was held in a large succah full of people on a high rooftop, apart from the lowly dwellings beneath. Divrei Torah lifted the soul, and the succah was filled with song. One of the melodies joined a powerful tune to the words “Achas sho’alti.”

Rav Hutner told the talmid that he had seen clearly how the tears of that night came from the well of his soul. Then he added a wondrous thought. Those tears had changed the skin of the talmid’s face, spelled with an ayin, into the light of his face, spelled with an alef.