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Sukkot , one of the most joyful and mysterious holidays in the Jewish calendar, has us stepping out of our cozy homes and into a temporary hut for seven days. But why? What’s the deeper meaning behind this tradition that’s been passed down for millennia? Let’s explore the layers – both the literal Sukkah foliage and the philosophical ideas – of what sitting in a Sukkah is all about.
The Basics: Why the Booths?
To start, the Torah gives us a pretty straightforward answer in Leviticus 23:42-43:
“You shall dwell in shelters for a seven-day period ... so that your generations will know that I caused the children of Israel to dwell in shelters when I took them from the land of Egypt. I am Hashem, your G-d.”
On the surface, it’s simple: We sit in the Sukkah to commemorate the time our ancestors spent in temporary shelters after leaving Egypt. But is there more to the story than that elementary school explanation? Well, buckle up (or rather, sit down in your Sukkah ), because we’re diving deeper!
Clouds or Cabins? The Great Debate
Our Sukkah tradition has sparked some debate over the centuries, particularly in the Gemara (Sukkah 11b). Rabbi Eliezer insists that these ‘shelters’ weren’t your average camping tents – they were the divine Ananei HaKavod ( clouds of glory ) that protected the Israelites during their desert journey. Rabbi Akiva, on the other hand, believes they were actual, tangible booths, the kind you’d want in a desert survival kit.
Both explanations carry weight, as Ramban (Nachmanides) explains. He gives a thoughtful analysis that these could be real structures, meant to shield from the desert heat and cold, or the miraculous clouds that kept the Israelites safe. Either way, Ramban says, the Sukkah reminds us of the miraculous nature of those 40 years of wandering, highlighting G-d’s protection in a hostile wilderness.
It’s More Than Just a Roof Over Our Heads
To take this a step further, Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch offers a philosophical take. He suggests that Sukkot is about more than just recalling our ancestors’ desert digs; it’s a lesson in humility, gratitude, and faith. He writes, “ Leave your sound and solid house; dwell under the sparse ceiling of foliage, and learn its lesson: Hashem, your G-d, caused your ancestors to dwell in booths for forty years….It is G-d alone, G-d, Who sustains even in booths. ”
Sukkot, according to Rav Hirsch, is a great equalizer. Whether you’re rolling in wealth or barely making ends meet, sitting in a Sukkah reminds you that material success is not the ultimate goal. It’s a reminder that our real source of security isn’t a solid roof, but the One watching over us, even when our ceilings are made of leaves (or durable Kosher l’Mehadrin bamboo Schach mats , as the case may be).
The Sukkah as the Great Unifier
Rav Hirsch concludes that the Sukkah helps us step away from the rat race and refocus on what matters: our relationship with G-d. “For if life is understood thus, it makes no difference whether you attain much or little; the assessment of your life lies in whether you have lived it dutifully with your much or your little.”
In other words, whether we have much or little, we’re all equal in the Sukkah . It’s a chance to pause, reflect, and recognize that our true purpose lies in how we live, not how much we’ve acquired.
Sukkot: The Festival of Perspective
So, why do we sit in a Sukkah for seven days? Sure, it’s to remember the clouds or the booths, depending on which rabbinic opinion speaks to you. But it’s also a reminder to take stock of our lives. The Sukkah invites us to step out of our material bubbles and into a space that reconnects us with our faith, our history, and our Creator. And in the process, we come to understand that life is about far more than just the walls that surround us. It’s about the support that comes from above, no matter how flimsy the structure may seem.
