Weekly Reading Insights: Sukkot
5774

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On the 4th night of Sukkot,1953-a year and a half after he took over the leadership of the Lubavitch community-the Rebbe spoke directly to the heart of a problem: he felt the hundreds of Chassidim surrounding him were not sufficiently in the spirit of the occasion.

He said:
Jewish tradition has taught for more than three thousand years, that from Rosh HaShanah toYom Kippur are our days of judgment for our actions of the previous year. Yom Kippur is closely followed by the holiday of Sukkot when we are commanded regarding the four species, referred to generally as the 'lulav and etrog'. The very act of the Jewish people going out before G-d holding their lulav and etrog, demonstrates that our Heavenly verdict is victorious. If we already KNOW that the verdict is victorious, than of course we have to be happy on the holiday.

As the Rebbe Rayatz used to say: crying is not the appropriate song for a soldier on his way to battle. Rather, singing a rousing march will lead to victory at the front. Not only does the singing of a march not interfere with our victory, is can turn the tide! Similarly, in every aspect of serving and connecting to G-d, being happy not only doesn't make things more difficult, it actually adds pleasure. And only when we do something with pleasure can we be certain that it will be done completely, with all of its details and in the most beautiful way.

The Rebbe then commanded the unmarried yeshiva students to start singing a happy song. This, the Rebbe said would succeed in getting the married men started too. In the midst of the powerful singing and dancing that ensued, the Rebbe stopped them abruptly and said, "An introduction is required here.

In the Talmud it says that each night during Chol Hamoed of Sukkot, there were celebrations in the Temple. It was the pious and the real 'doers' who took the lead in the dancing, while the rest of the people came to watch and listen. There are some sad people here in this room, that at this very minute are calculating whether they should join the dancing or not. Since they have decided that they are neither among the pious or the 'doers' they are unhappy.

I am announcing now to everyone, that this is not the time for calculations. Now is the time to be happy and anything else is a waste of precious time! As for their claim that they are not yet able to be happy, since the Talmud said it was the 'pious' (in Hebrew "Chassidim") who took the lead, they should be happy and participate even if they do not feel ready!

Let me explain. The Code of Jewish Law states that a person who is not obligated to dwell in his sukka (because of excessive cold, or heat, or rain, etc.), and who anyway does so, is called a fool. Nevertheless, we Chassidim, followers of the Baal Shem Tov, have a tradition for generations that we sit in the sukka even if we are not obligated. That someone might call us fools, what do we care? Since in the meantime we are able to fulfill this very important commandment that G-d has given us of dwelling in a sukka!

So, similarly, what matter does it make if he is or isn't 'pious' or a 'doer'? Even if he isn't, in the meantime he is fulfilling the commandment of being happy during Sukkot! But what if the person who is only acting happy now is committed to being honest with himself and sincere? Who is he fooling? Still, through acting happy particularly against one's will, the Torah tells us that in the end, he will reach genuine happiness. So ended the Rebbe's talk.

From another angle, the verse, "His (G-d's) right hand hugs me" (Song of Songs) refers to Sukkot. Just like when a person hugs his friend out of great love, unwilling to release him, so the holiday of Sukkot-with the four walled and branch covered sukkah-is like the Almighty hugging us, surrounding us from all sides, not letting us separate from Him. How can we not be happy!

Chag Samech, Shabbat shalom and blessings for a good and sweet year. - Shaul

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For last year's essay by Rabbi Leiter on this week's Reading, see the archive.

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Holy Zohar, Holy Ari, Mystic Classics, Chasidic Masters, Contemporary Kabbalists, and more,
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Mystical Classics
A Holiday for G-d

from Torat Moshe by Rabbi Moshe Alshich of Tzfat-Safed

There is a basic difference between Sukkot and Passover and Shavuot. The latter two denote specific historic events, as opposed to the Sukkot festival, which is a celebration for G-d for the fact that Israel had recovered from the stain on its soul due to the Golden Calf episode.

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