The Mitsva to reside in a Sukka for seven days and nights serves to commemorate the “clouds of glory” that encircled the Children of Israel as they traveled through the wilderness and provided miraculous protection from the harsh elements. Why then don’t we make a sukka during Passover time, when the Jewish people dwelled in sukkot? One well-known answer is that in ancient times, it was customary for people to construct outdoor huts and spend time in them during the spring and summer. As such, if we would live in Sukkot in Nissan, it would not be evident that we do so for the purpose of commemorating the miracle God performed for our ancestors. We are therefore commanded to observe this Mitsva in Tishri, the time when the rainy season begins and people start bringing their outdoor furniture inside. By moving into the Sukka specifically now, when it was customary to do just the opposite, we demonstrate that we reside in the Sukka not for leisure, but rather for the sake of the Mitsva. The Zohar refers to the Sukka as “the shade of faith.” The Sukka has the capacity to inspire us with its sanctity and bolster our faith in the Almighty. May we all be blessed with the privilege of experiencing the special Kedusha of the Sukka and being inspired to rise to greater levels of faith.
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 02:30:11 +0000
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