The Festival of Joy? (adapted from Rabbi E. Silberberg)
On its surface, the holiday of Sukkot is quite bizarre:
Every other holiday on the Jewish calendar commemorates an event which occurred on that particular date; but absolutely nothing happened on the 15th of Tishrei which would explain the establishment of a holiday on this date.
Every other holiday celebrates a major event which either saved the Jewish people from grave danger (such as Passover, Chanukah, or Purim) or that shaped their future (Yom Kippur, or Shavuot), but Sukkot celebrates a relatively “minor” miracle—the Clouds of Glory which miraculously surrounded the Jews for the forty years they spent in the desert. During this same period, the Jews were also the beneficiaries of another two miracles, the Manna and the waters which were produced by the rock—the “Well of Miriam.” Yet these two miracles, which seem to be of vastly greater import than the Heavenly Clouds (food and water being essentials whereas for shelter they erected tents) did not spawn any holidays!
And Sukkot isn’t “just another holiday”; it is the most joyous of the three Biblically mandated festivals. But why? What is the reason for the tremendous joy on this holiday?
Incredibly, the secret of Sukkot seems to be its lack of any great miracle. All miracles (or personal achievements and gains) are, in many ways, limited. This, in turn, causes the resulting joy to be limited. For the joy is limited by the scope of the benefit which the miracle or achievement produces. When the effects of the miracle or accomplishment wear off, the joy becomes passé; there is a Mishnaic dictum: “He who has one hundred desires two hundred, and he who possesses two hundred craves four hundred.” It is impossible for one to be ecstatic about a certain achievement when there is always so much more that can be accomplished.
Therefore on Sukkot have no miracles to celebrate. We are simply happy and full of joy. Why? Because we exist. No reasons. No miracles. We are G‑d’s people and he is our loving and protecting father who shielded us with His clouds of glory for 40 years.
We therefore leave the security and comfort of our homes, recognizing that true happiness does not come from our beautifully decorated homes, our designer furniture, or any of our other belongings or achievements. We venture out into the Sukkah, which the Zohar dubs “The Shade of Faith,” and focus on our most important asset—our G‑dly soul and our special relationship with G‑d. An everlasting bond that is infinite and knows no bounds.
So lets celebrate!
Chag Sameach – Rabbi Raleigh Resnick