Rabbi's Corner

I think of the movie “Casablanca” and the song that the movie made both more famous and more popular than it was when it was first released in 1931, and I find that it relates directly to Sukkot.  The song to which I refer is “As Time goes by.”  The song begins with these lyrics: “You must remember this, a kiss is still a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh; the fundamental things apply as time goes by.”  You may ask: “Rabbi, what does this song have to do with Sukkot?”  Well, if you allow me to, I will tell you! 

The month of Tishrei began with Rosh Hashanah, proceeded through Yom Kippur, and is climaxing and ending with Sukkot, Hoshanah Rabbah, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah.  It is especially during this time of the year in the Jewish calendar, during the month of Tishrei and proceeding into the month of Marcheshvan (so-called as it contains no Jewish festivals or celebrations other than Shabbat), that we have the ability to come closer to Hashem that at any other time in the year.  And it is especially during Sukkot, our Season of Rejoicing, that we experience our greatest joy over the Eternal Covenant we have with HaShem.  It is during Sukkot that we are commanded to move from our permanent physical home and dwell in the temporary structure that reminds us of the how our ancient ancestors lived as they left Egypt and made their way to the Promised Land.  But the sukkah is more than a mere temporary structure which reminds us of what and where we were.  The sukkah contains a secret that best exemplifies the basis of the Eternal Covenant between HaShem and the People Israel.

We know that the entire month of Elul and the first ten days of Tishrei deal with forgiveness.  We ask those whom we know we have wronged or those whom we think we have wronged for their forgiveness.  So, let's play out some possible scenarios that might result from your action:  You tell a person you know you have wronged how you have wronged him/her and ask for forgiveness.  There is no doubt that it is one of the hardest things for one to do: to go and admit to someone that you have wronged that person.  So, having done this, you can expect four possible reactions.  (1) If the person doesn't care about the relationship you have with him/her, s/he might brush you off by saying, "Yeah, sure, that's fine.  Don't worry about it."  (2) If the person appreciates your sincerity and forgives you, s/he might shake your hand and say, "Thank you.  All is forgiven."  (3) If the person is truly moved by what you have said, s/he might say, "Please don't give it another thought.  I absolutely forgive you."  (4) But if this person has a loving and abiding relationship with you and forgives you with all his/her heart, s/he might give you a hug and say, "Forgive you?  Forgive you for what?  It never happened.  I love you so much.  Don't ever forget that, not for a moment, no matter what!"  It is this fourth reaction that is the secret of the joy of Sukkot.

Whenever we enter the sukkah, we are completely surrounded by and immersed in the Presence of the Divine.  Whenever we enter the sukkah, we experience the compassion and love and total forgiveness of HaShem.  Whenever we enter the sukkah, we are lovingly embraced by HaShem.  Why?  Because the sukkah is the physical manifestation of our Eternal Covenant with HaShem.  It is in the sukkah that we are fully surrounded and embraced by HaShem.  And what could give us more joy than that?  So, I suggest to you that in these last few days of Sukkot, before the solemnity of Shemini Atzeret and the unbridled joy of Simchat Torah, that you enter the sukkah you constructed or, if you were not able to do that, enter the sukkah at the Synagogue and languish in the eternal Embrace of Hashem that awaits you.  You will never feel more loved or treasured!