"Rejoice...Be Wholly Happy", Says the Bible on Sukkot

Jews world over have built their sukkot, chosen their "4 species", and are ready to fulfill the Bible's command to rejoice on this festival.

Sunday evening at sundown is the start of the holiday of Sukkot (Tabernacles), one of the three major festivals (shlosha regalim) of the Jewish calendar in which, in Temple days, the Jewish People were enjoined to "go up to Jerusalem."

Sukkot, coming immediately after the solemn month of Elul and the High Holydays, is the holiday on which the Bible encourages all of us to "be wholly happy".

In recognition of that joy, the entire Halled -praise - prayer is said each day of the holiday.

In Biblical times as today, it was a harvest holiday for summer crops and grapes, a water holiday that included prayers for winter rains, gratitude for the land of milk and honey, and as always in Judaism, remembrance: reenacting the years in the desert when the Israelites dwelled in sukkot (booths), protected by G-d's clouds of glory by day and a column of fire at night. That is done by eating and spending time, entertaining, lighting holiday candles - and even sleeping - in a sukkah...

On the nights of Chol Hamoed, “Water-Drawing Celebrations,” called Simchat Beit HaShoeva (Celebration of the House of Water-Drawing), are held to commemorate the ceremonies and celebrations that took place at the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in preparation for drawing water for use during the festival services.

These celebrations, held in Jewish communities around the world, are a highlight in Hassidic communities and Israeli yeshivas, and most attended in Jerusalem's Meah Shearim, where the students return from vacation for the night on which their yeshiva celebrates, often featuring all-night music and singing by live bands...

And to you!

One place I live in in Jersey City was an apt. building with two private homes next door, outside my window. One family was Asian and the other Jewish. The Jewish family had a beautiful tent (I forget the right name) that they would put up for Sukkot every year. It was dark,midnight blue with wonderful gold lettering embroidered on it.

Most of the folks in my apt. building were Spanish or Vietnamese. My kid and I were, and are, Irish (mostly) Americans.

We had one real fruitcake in the building (a white chick, I’d bet my bottom dollar she’s a proud Obama voter) but other than that we lived in fairly happy harmony.

I’d look out the window at my neighbors and say “G-d bless America”.

And wouldn’t you know, directly across the street from all of us live one of the guys who blew up the WTC the first time. The idiot who went back for the truck deposit.

He’d have blown us all sky-high and been proud to do it.

Sukkot, coming immediately after the solemn month of Elul and the High Holydays, is the holiday on which the Bible encourages all of us to "be wholly happy".

In recognition of that joy, the entire Halled -praise - prayer is said each day of the holiday.

A little while ago I was reading this:

The Fallen Sukkah of David

Which prompted me to look up this:

Amos 9

11. In that day I will raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and repair its breaches; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will rebuild it as in the days of old:
12. That they may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the nations, who are called by my name, says the Lord who does this:
13. Behold, the days come, says the Lord, when the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt:
14. And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall rebuild the ruined cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink their wine; they shall also make gardens, and eat their fruit:
15. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be plucked up out of their land which I have given them, says the Lord your God:

So when reading your post:

Zechariah 14

16 And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.
17 And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, on them there will be no rain.

I was reminded of this:

Psalm 137

5. If I forget you, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning:
6. If I do not remember you, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I do not set Jerusalem above my highest joy:
7. Remember, O Lord, against the Edomites, the day of Jerusalem; who said, Raze it, raze it, to its foundation:

Chag Sukkot Sameach!

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