Page 32 - HaMizrachi #33 Sukkot 2021 USA

The

Joyof

Sukkot

Rabbi Binyamin Blau

s both a rabbi and a mechan- of Sukkot as being in the beginning of our shortcomings and reconnect with
ech (educator), I often feel the year – after all, it occurs at the our Creator. Yom Kippur is a unique day
that the chag of Sukkot start of the school year in chutz laaretz for both meanings of teshuvah – repair
Adoes not get its proper due. and after yeshivot and midrashot have and return – when we pour out our
Understandably, there is a tremendous resumed in Israel – in the eyes of the hearts to Hashem and He is eager to
amount of focus on the Yamim Noraim, Torah it clearly comes at the close of forgive us.
but as a result, there is often little time our cycle of chagim. As such we need to Hopefully, we have navigated all these
devoted to fully appreciating the chag look at the entire pattern of chagim to chagim successfully and that brings
that follows. There are many beautiful understand both the joy of Sukkot and us appropriately to Sukkot. By now,
aspects of Sukkot that are deserving of its deliberate placement. we fully understand who we are as a
exploration, but I would like to high- nation and what our mission is, and we
light two components. Despite the fact that we refer to the
first of Tishrei as Rosh Hashanah, have corrected our errors and regained
We refer to this Yom Tov as “Z’man Sim- Nissan is chodesh harishon (the first our closeness to Hashem; now, we are
chateinu.” Why, of all the chagim, does month) which means that our holiday ready to celebrate and bask in this
Sukkot receive this title? Are we not cycle begins with Pesach. It is then incredible relationship.
joyous when we relive the events of that we became a nation forming our This is why Sukkot comes directly
Yetziat Mitzrayim? Isn’t the revelation identity as Am Yisrael. However, we after Yom Kippur and it is the chag
at Har Sinai a more appropriate time to were a people without a purpose and designated for expressing simcha. Can
express intense happiness? Let us put so the chag that follows immediately there be any greater joy than appreci-
those questions in abeyance and note afterward is Shavuot, Z’man Matan Tor- ating and experiencing this feeling of
a second observation. ateinu, when we celebrate the giving purpose and this incredible bond with
of the Torah. At that moment we were Hashem? The joy is intense and that
In contrast to the other two regalim (pil-
grimage festivals) that match up with given a mission, a noble task to fulfill is why even Hashem suggests that we
in our role as Hashem’s chosen nation.
historical events, the timing of Sukkot stay an additional day, Shemini Atzeret,
seems almost arbitrary. We did indeed Having received our directive, the next before departing.
sit in Sukkot in the desert on the dates step is for Hashem to examine if we Let us reflect on the deeper meaning of
that the chag is observed, but we also have successfully accomplished what Sukkot, and may we all be blessed with
did so throughout the year, so why is He asked of us, both collectively and a chag sameach.
the designation of this Yom Tov linked individually. This is why Rosh Hasha-
to this period? Could it not have been nah follows, as we recognize Hashem’s
celebrated at almost any point in the malchut (kingship) and acknowledge Rabbi Binyamin Blau serves as the President
calendar? that we are being judged on our obser- of the Rabbinical Council of America – a
vance of Torah and mitzvot. member of the Orthodox Israel Coalition –
While there are many answers to these and is the Rabbi of Green Road Synagogue in
queries, perhaps we can take the fol- Fortunately, even if we are found lack- Beachwood, Ohio, and Rosh Yeshiva at Fuchs
lowing approach: While we often think ing, there is an opportunity to repair Mizrachi School.

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