DEVAR TORAH - SUKKOT

Shalom, The Torah reading for the first day of SUKKOT is taken from Leviticus 22:26-23:44. In Leviticus 23:33-44, we are given instructions on how to unfold this festive occasion. The instructions give rise to the observance of seven festive days commencing with the High Holy Day, which is a day of rest, the waving of the four elements termed ARBAH MINIM, the erection of a SUKKAH, which is a temporary dwelling place like unto that our ancestors occupied after their liberation from Egypt, times of feasting and the commandment to be filled with joy. Indeed this festival is destined to take us into spiritual ecstasy.

In the pursuit of spiritual ecstasy, I was met with great challenges in preparation for the feast. It began with the search for the four elements to be waved during the feast. Not only was I responsible for finding them, but also for assembling them into the proper order and teaching others to do the same the evening before the feast was to begin. After contacting a few people, I was able to acquire what was needful along with the instruction an how to assemble them. I assembled the four species, and proceeded to teach others to do the same. The task was difficult but with the exercise of patience, we accomplished. There was joy in completion.

When the morning hours arrived, the challenge was on again. I have two classes that I am committed to in teaching the principles of Judaism. Along with the responsibility of teaching Judaism, I was committed to teaching our assembly how to construct a SUKKAH. This required rising early to fulfill my devotion to SHACHARIT, teaching one class, going to the place where we needed to construct the SUKKAH and begin preparation with cutting wood, etc. Then returning to teach the second class and afterwards going back to the construction sight to finish the SUKKOT. The work load seemed to require more time than the day allotted before the High Holy Day began. Although the challenges were great, we were able to complete the task.

The first night of the feast was off the charts, but the threat of rain would not allow us to stay in the tabernacles. All night long it stormed, the lightening flashed, the thunder roared, the rain came down and the wind blew hard. It was my prayer to the ABBA that He would not allow the wind and rain to destroy the dwelling places we had constructed. In the morning hours I went to the sight of the tabernacles and all were fallen down. It was still the High Holy day and I wanted to set them back up, but needed help. No help was to be found. I sought the counsel of the ABBA and received peace.

When the hour came to begin the evening feast, I thought we would have it in the basement rather than outside in the SUKKOT since they were down. Feeling uncomfortable with the idea, I sought the ABBA for instruction. As the sun was going down, I felt the impetus to obey. With the assembly there, we were able to quickly reassemble the SUKKOT. It required some sweat, but for us it was no longer a High Holy Day. Frustrated a little about the ABBA not allowing the SUKKOT to stand, I went back to prayer, after all we are commanded to rejoice not be frustrated. I questioned the ABBA and the words came to me that SUKKOT is a celebration of our need for physical things and trusting the ABBA above our needs. As I meditated upon these words, it came to me that faith does not make sense, but rather makes things possible. Faith is not a magicians trick to convince others, but rather it is the energy to fulfill what Torah instructs once the will is brought into congruency with the ABBA. Faith is transliterated into the Hebrew word EMUNAH, perhaps this is where we get the ENGLISH word IMMUNIZATION. Yea, faith immunizes us from failure to perform mitzvot.