Friday, September 29, 2023

WHAT EXACTLY ARE SUKKOT?

 
Sukkot 1 and 2 - Tishrei 15-16, 5783 / October 9-11, 2022
Sukkot 1 and 2 - Torah: Leviticus 22:26 - 23:44; Maftir: Numbers 29:12-16
Sukkot 1 - Haftarah: Zechariah 14:1-21
Sukkot 2 - Haftarah: 1 Kings 8:2-21
 
Some excellent on-line resources are available for Sukkot/Shemini Atzeret/Simchat Torah at:
https://www.myjewishlearning.com/
 
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This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Chanah Bella bat Kreina and Devorah bat Feigel.
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My Sermon for Rosh Hashanah Day 2 is available at my blog. You can view it here:
 
https://rav-rich.blogspot.com/2023/09/this-is-my-sermon-for-second-day-of.html 
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Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. 
We're continuing to read and discuss the Midrashic collection Ein Ya'akov. On Monday, October 2, we'll be at BT Shabbat 117b, page 186 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1 – "...אמר רב חסדא לעולם ישכים אדם"  - "R. Chisda said: 'A man shall always rise early...'"
Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) is available for on-line reading or as a downloadable PDF at:
https://hebrewbooks.org/9630   
A pointed Hebrew text version with different pagination is available at Sefaria: 
https://www.sefaria.org/Ein_Yaakov?tab=contents  
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Check out our wonderful community, and get lots of info about our various programs and becoming a Member at: https://bnaihayim.org/ 
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Rabbi Van Leeuwen has a blog which you should read at: 
https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/blog/ 
 
Dr. Steve Pearlman writes up the "Midrashim of the Week", which you should read at: 
https://midrashsrp.wordpress.com 
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WHAT EXACTLY ARE SUKKOT?

"So that your generations will know that I caused the Children of Israel to dwell in sukkot when I brought them out of the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God." Leviticus 23:43

There is an interesting dispute among the Rabbis concerning the nature of the sukkot in which our ancestors dwelt. In the Talmud (Sukkah 11b), Rabbi Eliezer says the sukkot were "the clouds of glory" (ananei hakavod) that surrounded the Jews in the desert. But Rabbi Akiva says, "They built for themselves actual booths" (sukkot mamash). One might understand from Rabbi Eliezer that the Shekhinah, the Divine Presence, surrounded them in the desert - that is something truly spectacular! Rabbi Akiva is a realist - they lived in flimsy structures, just like we build today.

 


What makes the discussion more interesting is that in the midrashic text Mekhilta D'Rebbi Ishmael (Pischa 14), Rabbi Eliezer says they were actual booths and Rabbi Akiva says they were clouds of glory! Which text is correct and which rabbi is correct?

The answer is - they all are! Sukkot are physical and metaphysical. It comes to teach us that when we spend a week fulfilling the mitzvah of residing in a flimsy hut, we surround ourselves with the Shekhinah. Spend some time in a sukkah, and get your head in the clouds!

May we all dwell in sukkot shalom – shelters of peace.
Shabbat Shalom! Chag Sukkot Sameach! Mo'adim L'Simchah! Chagim U'z'manim L'sason!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom
".איזה הוא חכם? הלומד מכל אדם"
Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.
Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1
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