Hag Shavuot Sameach

 

Writing in MyJewishLearning.com (10/16/16), Rabbi David Golinkin lays out a variety of reasons for why we are commanded to live in the sukkah. He notes the agricultural reason cited in the Torah: “After the ingathering from your threshing floor and your vat, you shall hold the Feast of Booths for seven days…You shall hold a festival…in the place that the Lord will choose, for the Lord your God will bless all your crops and all your undertakings, and you shall have nothing but joy” (Deut. 16:13,15).

            A historical reason is also found in the Torah: You shall live in booths seven days; all citizens in Israel shall live in booths. In order that future generations may know that I made the Israelite people live in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt… (Lev.(23:42-43).

            Tradition adds additional reasons: Philo, the first century Egyptian-Jewish philosopher,  suggests that “it should remind us of the long wanderings of our forefathers in the depths of the desert... and to remember your poverty….”

            There is more to this line of thought. Most of us have the ability and the means (the privilege) to live in far better conditions than our ancestors. Thus, the sukkah becomes an ironic statement of gratitude. Philo says that it’s a pleasure for a prosperous person to remember the “bad old days.” He adds one additional factor: sitting in the sukkah leads us to thank God for all the kindness He has bestowed upon us.

            At a time of plague, physical separation from our community, racial strife, the rise again of anti-Semitism and political division, it may be difficult to remain grateful for what we have received. I believe that the act of putting up the sukkah in my backyard is one of hope that with God’s kindness, we can overcome the difficulties we face.