by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com SUKKOS – A TIME OF ALIYAH L’REGEL One of the aspects of the Yom Tov of Sukkos is the Mitzvah of Aliyah L’Regel.  Three times a year the Jewish nation visited the Bais HaMikdash in Yerushalayim to greet the Presence of the Shechina.  Nowadays, most authorities hold that this Mitzvah is not obligatory because, unfortunately, there is no Bais HaMikdash.  The Midrash Yalkut Shimoni on Yishayahu explains that in the future Geulah the Mitzvah will not only be three times a year, but actually once a month! HASHEM’S LOVE FOR US But there is something else of interest to us in regard to Aliyah L’Regel. The Gemorah (Yuma 54a) tells us that when the Jewish nation would be Oleh Regel, they would open the Paroches and reveal the Kruvim smiling and facing each other.  Then they would declare to them, “See how much Hashem loves you.” This is also a thought that we declare before we recite the daily Shma, and one that should be reinforced.  When we realize how much Hashem loves us, we look at events in our life differently.  We appreciate what we have been given more, and we also come to value and understand the Hashgacha Pratis, the individual attention that we receive from Hashem.  This perspective will in turn allow us to fulfill the special Avodah of Sukkos – Simcha – spiritual joy. THE SPECIAL AVODAH – SIMCHA Each of Yomim Tovim has its own special Avodah, method in which to serve Hashem and become ever closer to Him.  The Gemorah above tells us that it is reciprocal – Hashem comes ever closer to us on the Yom Tov.  When we perform the special Avodah of Sukkos, let us have this in mind. Pesach is called Zman Cherusainu, the time of our freedom.  Shavuos is called Zman Matan Torasainu, the time when we received our Torah, and Sukkos is called Zman Simchasainu – the time of our joy.  Although all Yomim Tovim are times of Simcha – Sukkos is singled out where Zman Simchasainu is the essence of the holiday.  Why? The Nesivos Shalom explains that the Sukkah is a manifestation of “HeviAni HaMelech Chadarav – The King has brought me into His inner room (Shir HaShirim 1:4).”  After the Yomim Noraim where Klal Yisroel has been elevated and purified, Hashem has given us the Mitzvah of Sukkah.  The Sukkah’s holiness is a revelation of Hashem’s intense love for His people – a love comparable to the love demonstrated when He was with us in the Bais HaMikdash itself. This is why Sukkos has an extra dimension of Simcha to it.  We are a nation whose very essence thrives upon Dveikus Bashem – closeness to Hashem.  This is our true Simcha.  Indeed, the Gemorah tells us (Sukkah 51b), “One who never witnessed the Simchas Beis HaSho-aivah, the all night celebration on Sukkos, never saw joy in his or her life.”  The Gemorah cites Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Chananya (Sukkah 53a) whose words bear out that the Simcha, the joy, was so captivating that no one slept in a bed on Sukkos. SEEING ONE’S TEACHER Another aspect of the Avodah on Sukkos, as on the other Regalim, is to see and greet one’s teacher.  The Talmud tells us, (Rosh HaShana 16b) […]

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