Shabbat: Celebrating Life

I quite agree with both Moses, who asked the congregation to rejoice in their festival and Rabbi Zalma's call for the Jews to internalize the inner message of the festivals.

Asa behaviour change communicator, I believe in and profess the need for voluntary adaptation of change of behaviour conducive to health. When people understand why they should behave in a certain way, they voluntarily change their behaviours positively and maintain the new behaviour. Similaly, if people understand what those feasts are, what they mean to them and why they must be commemorated, they are bound to rejoice and participate actively in celebrating the feasts voluntarily without being coarsed. Reply

Today I'm not the same as yesterday because since yesterday to today something I've learned.
What these pilgrim festivals are telling me?
Passover, how difficult for me to leave my personal Egypt, to eat the bread of affliction this year and the next too.
Shavu’ot, the Festival of Weeks, the giving of the Torah. In pray I tell my G-d, how grateful I am to Chabad because they have provided me with access to the Torah and the teachings of Chassidus.
Sukkot, I have never been in a Sukkah. This festival commemorates G-d's protection during the 40 years in the desert and although I don't have access to a Sukkah I thank G-d for his enveloping protection He has bestowed upon me all the days of my life.

Deut, 16:16 tells me that during these three festivals males have to appear before the Lord and that they will not appear before Him empty-handed. Somehow I have the feeling that my hands are empty. That, I have to think about. Reply

I like very much Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi's interpretation. I feel a strong blessing whenever my inner thoughts and convictions are showcased by an authority, in this case Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi. Reply