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v’Zot Habracha-Simchat Torah 5770-2009

"The Confluence of v’Zot Habracha and the Holiday"

There is a strong connection between the festival of Simchat Torah and parashat v’Zot Habrachah. It is in this parasha that Moses proclaims that the Torah that Moses commanded to us is the heritage of the congregation of Jacob. What is the difference between a “heritage” and an “inheritance,” and how is this distinction transmitted through the celebration of Simchat Torah?

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Sukkot 5770-2009

"Sukkot: The Dialectic of a Festival"

The festival of Sukkot actually represents a delicate balance between the spiritual and material worlds. The Talmud records a dispute between the rabbis concerning whether the “sukkot” (booths) referred to in the Torah were actual physical booths that were built by the people of Israel, or Divine Clouds of Glory that hovered over the people as they traveled in the wilderness. These two opinions represent the dialectic between the physical and the material world that is necessary for achieving a proper balance in life.

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Sukkot 5769-2008

"The Imperative of Joy"

Non-Jewish theologians often promote the misleading notion that Jewish worshipers pray while trembling in fear and mortal dread before a vengeful deity. The truth is that Jews are meant to serve G-d in joy and happiness. It is on the festival of Sukkot where joy reaches its peak. Therefore we are mandated on Sukkot to be joyful, and to reaffirm that joy is intended to be the natural state of the Jewish people.

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Sukkot/Hoshanah Rabbah 5768-2007

"The Festival of Sukkot Comes to a Dramatic Close"

The festival of Hoshanah Rabbah, which concludes the Sukkot holiday, is often considered a minor observance, and frequently falls between the cracks. It is however a most significant day in which all of humankind is judged. It is therefore filled with meaningful rituals and traditions that are key to fully appreciating the true significance of this important holiday.

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Sukkot I 5767-2006

"Sukkot- The Festival of Joy"

The holiday of Sukkot, known as the "Festival of Joy" was renowned in ancient times for its most festive celebration of Simchat Beit Hashoeva , the festival of the water libation. Around the year 95 B.C.E. when the King of Judea, Alexander Yannai, attempted to change the ritual of water libation, he was pelted by the traditionalists, leading to a massacre of many of the celebrants. While even the minute detail of the Sukkot rituals were sacred to the ancients, most contemporary Jews fail to celebrate Sukkot in any manner, and know absolutely nothing of this very special joyous festival.

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Simchat Torah 5767-2006

"The Evolving Holiday"

One of the most joyous days of the Jewish calendar, Simchat Torah, as it is celebrated today, is a relatively new holiday that became popular in the Middle Ages around the 14th century. The customs and rituals of this holiday have interesting origins, and, in fact, seem to still be evolving and developing in contemporary times.

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Bereishith--Simchat Torah 5766-2005

" P'roo Ur'voo --Jewish Attitudes Towards Procreation"

As we once again begin the Book of Genesis, we learn about the central mitzvah of procreation, "p'roo ur'voo," (Genesis 1:28). Judaism diverges from much of Christianity in its forthright and positive attitude towards sexuality. Not only is bearing children a mitzvah in Judaism, but even pleasure in sexuality is a mitzvah. Furthermore, even those who are not blessed with children can bear spiritual fruit, by becoming teachers of Torah or by supporting the study of Torah.

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Ha'azinu--Sukkot 5766-2005

"When Life Revolves Around G-d"

The magnificent poetry of parashat Ha’azinu informs us that the People of Israel were the only nation created without a land. In this way, it was assured that G-d would be the peoples’ primary influence, rather than allow the natural environment of the land to influence His people. So it is that in the midst of our abundant creature comforts, Sukkot comes to teach us a formidable lesson–that we are never truly secure unless G-d is in the forefront of our minds, and a constant presence in our dwelling places.

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Sukkot 5765-2004

"Worshiping G-d Wholeheartedly"

In an affluent society, such as the one in which we live, it is often difficult to find opportunities to worship G-d wholeheartedly. By sacrificing our mortal comforts and entering the ill-furnished sukkah, we send G-d a message that we are prepared to give up our creaturely comforts for Him. History has proven that when we sacrifice, we get paid back--big time!

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Sukkot 5764-2003

"The Seven Protective Divine Clouds"

According to the Midrash, the Jewish people were protected in the wilderness from the elements and from enemy attack by seven clouds. Though it is often hard to believe, the Jewish people today are similarly cared for in exile. G-d indeed shields them, but Jews must do all they can to look after their own wellbeing.

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Simchat Torah 5764-2003

" Celebrating Torah"

Torah does not just punctuate, it permeates, the life of a Jew. Torah is meant to be nothing less than the Jews' preoccupation, all of the days and nights of one's life. Like the air that is breathed, or the heart that beats within a human chest, there is no possibility of Jewish life absent of Torah.

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Sukkot 5763-2002

“A Sukkah Memory”

Back in the good ol’ days of the Bronx, there weren’t many religious Jews, and very few private Sukkot. My father, of blessed memory, was not happy with the way the local synagogue had decorated its sukkah, and took it upon himself to redo the decor. The results of his interior decorations surprised everyone.

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Sukkot 5762-2001

“I’m Dreaming of a Warm Sukkot”

A little boy recalls his memories of the festival of Sukkot in the wilderness of the Bronx.

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Sukkot 5761-2000

“The Sukkot Story: Devotion to a Festival”

Devotion to G-d must be wholehearted. Earning a place in the World to Come must be due to a person’s good deeds, and not one’s superior negotiation skills.

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