True Simcha on Yom Tov

I’ve heard and read from a number of sources, discussing how to observe Simchas Torah this year. After all, last year the horrible attack occurred, and for many individuals, this day is now a reminder of the terrible losses that were suffered.
I’ve heard some people suggest that the Simcha should be tempered, that we shouldn’t have the same joy we’ve had in the past. I think just the opposite.
I was told when I was younger that the Vilna Gaon said that the most difficult mitzvah to keep is Simchas Yom Tov, because you have to be in a state of pure simcha for the entire time. I think especially on Shemini Atzeres/Simchas Torah, that is the main avodas hayom. We don’t sit in the sukkah anymore (at least not with a bracha), we don’t take the arba minim – it’s a day for us to spend with Hashem. In fact, it says that Shemini Atzeres is the culmination of the entire season, and everything else just leads up to it.
If our avodas hayom is to be happy, with a pure simcha, how can we temper the joy? We are celebrating our closeness with Hashem – I’d say that after a tragedy, we need that more than ever!

So how can we answer the question regarding why the massacre happened on that day? If we’re so close to Hashem on that day, how could such a tragedy occur?
I think I may have an answer. The Gemara tells us that when the Beis Hamikdash was destroyed, the Romans saw the keruvim embracing each other. The obvious question is, why? The relationship between the Jews and Hashem was obviously not in a good place at that time! One answer I heard is that a punishment can’t be given out of anger, only out of love. Yes, Hashem was angry at the Jews – but the punishment is given out of love, so the keruvim were embracing.
For some reason, the massacre had to happen. But it was a punishment for something, and so it had to happen out of love. That love is at its highest point on Shemini Atzeres – and that’s why it happened on that day.
Let us all have a wonderful Yom Tov, and rejoice in the knowledge that Hashem is watching over us. We will sit in the Sukkah, recognizing Hashem’s protection. Then, we can celebrate with the Torah, knowing that our relationship with Hashem is still strong. No matter what happens, that is worth being joyful for.