Happy in Our Hut
During this week of Succot many of us have moved out into our back yards or onto the balcony in response to the scriptural commandment to live in booths. For those whose idea of roughing it is eating barbeque on a screened in porch, the idea of sleeping outdoors is more than a bit odd. Odder yet is the commandment to rejoice while we leave our comfortable beds for the great outdoors. So why are we commanded to rejoice while roughing it?
A story is told1 of a young man who traveled a great distance to meet the Chofetz Chaim. When he came to the great man's home, he was taken aback by the simplicity of its furnishings; a table for eating and writing, two chairs, a bed, a bookcase and not much else. The contrast between the stature of his host and the spare furnishings made the young man forget his manners and ask why there was no furniture.
The rabbi asked him in turn where he lived. "New York," was the answer.
"And where is all your furniture?", asked the rabbi.
"Why, at home. I didn't bring it with me as I'm only passing through." replied the young man.
To which the rabbi responded, "I also am only passing through."
One of the lessons of Succot is that we are sojourners passing through this world on our way to the next. With that in mind, we need to be reminded not to become attached to the things of this world, beautiful as they are. We certainly may enjoy them and we must use them to do the things God has set out for us to accomplish, but we are not to get grumpy when they must be left behind - especially when it's only for a week.
We rejoice upon being reminded of the time when we were sojourners in the wilderness. During that time after the Exodus, we had the visible presence of God in our camp.
So Succot reminds us that we are on a journey to that place where we will dwell in the presence of God once again. Surely that is reason to rejoice.
1Paraphrased from Lively Parsha at Aish.com
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