Sukkot

In the book of Deuteronomy (which we will soon complete in our yearly cycle of Torah reading), Moses lays out the “deal” for the Jewish nation in a crystal clear manner. He describes the unbounded blessing they will enjoy when they keep their end of their covenant with G-d by keeping His mitzvot. On the other hand, Moses describes the horrific curses that will be suffered when the nation turns away from G-d and fails to uphold the covenant.

In the book of Deuteronomy (which we will soon complete in our yearly cycle of Torah reading), Moses lays out the “deal” for the Jewish nation in a crystal clear manner. He describes the unbounded blessing they will enjoy when they keep their end of their covenant with G-d by keeping His mitzvot. On the other hand, Moses describes the horrific curses that will be suffered when the nation turns away from G-d and fails to uphold the covenant.

But there is more. Deuteronomy 28:45-47 sets forth an additional caveat: “All these curses will come upon you and pursue you and overtake you … because you did not serve HaShem, your G-d, amid joy and goodness of heart….”

Just observing the mitzvot is insufficient. They must be fulfilled with joy. (Obviously we must keep the mitzvot even when we cannot reach this level of gladness because one of the tenets of our faith is mitoch lo lishmah bah lishmah, which means that the very action of doing the mitzvah will itself ultimately lead you to have the proper motives and intent.)

We are specifically commanded to observe the festivals with joy, but the Torah mentions joy with reference to Sukkot more than with any other festival. “And you shall rejoice before the Lord, your G-d.” (Leviticus 23:40) “And you shall rejoice in your Festival.” (Deut. 15:14) “And you shall be exceedingly joyous.” (Ibid. 15:15)

Of all the joy experienced during Sukkot, the most intense was reserved for the ceremony of the pouring of water on the altar (praying for rain in its proper time). A legion of men, women, and children participated in this great celebration every night of Sukkot except for the first night of Sukkot and Shabbat. Whoever witnessed the joy that attended the pouring of the water drew happiness for his soul. In the Talmud Sukkah 51d, the Sages declare, “One who has not seen the celebration of the water libation has never seen real joy.”

We are taught that the spirit of holiness descends upon a person only when his heart is filled with gladness. The prophet Jonah received his prophecy regarding Nineveh while participating in this joyous ceremony. Some say that the joy that accompanies the fulfillment of a mitzvah is held in higher regard by G-d than the mitzvah itself. One who performs a mitzvah without joy does so not out of love, but out of fear or habit.

King David, the most prominent person in the nation, overlooking his own honor, is described as having danced and leaped with unbridled ecstasy in front of the Holy Ark as it was being transported to Jerusalem. Similarly, we see that at the Simchat Beit HaShoeva (water libation ceremony) the most eminent leaders of the people ignored their own sense of personal dignity to freely express their limitless rapture. The boundless pleasure that the elders of Israel displayed tells us that no greatness or glory for humankind exceeds that associated with closeness to G-d.

Maimonides, the great 11th-century codifier of law, wrote in Hilchot Lulav 5, “The joy a person should feel when fulfilling a mitzvah is itself a great act of worship and whoever restrains himself from this joy deserves punishment.”

Now that the Holy Temple in Jerusalem is destroyed, we do not have the altar or the sacrifices or the water libations. Nevertheless, we continue to rejoice intensely on the festival of Sukkot.

In many communities it is customary to hold festive gatherings in yeshivot and synagogues during the week of Sukkot to celebrate with music, song and praise. A Shabbat such as this one, which falls on the intermediary days of Sukkot (Chol HaMoed), is even more joyous than other Shabbatot because of the additional special Holy Day spirit.

May we all enjoy a joyous and meaningful Sukkot holiday. Chag sameach and Shabbat shalom.

Rabbi Pinchas Lipner is dean of the Hebrew Academy in San Francisco.