Living Torah Archives

When the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem, wine was poured on the altar daily, but on the festival of Sukkos there was an additional water libation after the morning service. The seven nights of Sukkos were spent celebrating the drawing of this water, which was collected daily at daybreak from a valley below the Temple. Water may lack all the sophistication of wine, but it is for this reason that our sages associate it with Torah, unity and joy.

The Four Species taken on Sukkos represent four types of Jews, from the citron which has both flavor and fragrance, and represents the Jew who studies Torah and fulfills its commandments, to the willow which is neither tasty nor fragrant, represents the simplest of Jews, who lacks both Torah and good deeds.

During their sojourn in the desert, G-d protected the Jewish people against danger and the elements with the Clouds of Glory, which the Torah refers to as “sukkahs.” To commemorate this, He commanded us to observe the holiday of Sukkos, when we spend a week in temporary huts.

The sukkah is a testament to G‑d’s protection over the Jewish people. Like the clouds of glory in the desert, which it represents, the sukkah brings the nations of the world to respect the Jewish people and to recognize that this world has one true Master, G‑d Almighty. Thus, the coronation of G‑d which the Jewish people initiated on Rosh Hashana also reaches its apex on Sukkos, as all the nations of the world recognize G‑d’s dominion.

The two central mitzvos of Sukkos, the sukkah and the Four Kinds, have at their core the theme of Jewish unity.

The yahrzeit of the Rebbe Maharash, the fourth Chabad Rebbe, falls just before Sukkos, a time when Jews busily prepare for the upcoming festival. In recalling his life’s work, we see how the Rebbe Maharash gave up personal comforts, working tirelessly to improve the spiritual and physical lives of Russian Jewry.

When the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem, wine was poured on the altar daily, but on the festival of Sukkos there was an additional water libation after the morning service.

The Talmud relates that the entire Jewish people could dwell in one sukkah.

A special presentation in honor of the 35th anniversary of the Rebbe’s recovery from a heart attack in 1977.

Chabad philosophy teaches that the sukkah—which represents the clouds of glory that sheltered the Jewish people in the desert—is also the revelation of the incense cloud that blanketed the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur. On Sukkos it is revealed for all to see, even non-Jewish passersby.

An address to children on Sukkos: Unlike other nations, who parade with a rifle, a Jew parades with a lulav. And instead of bullets, a Jew arms himself with an esrog. Instead of brandishing daggers or swords, a Jew carries hadassim (myrtles) and aravos (willows).

The two central mitzvos of Sukkos—the sukkah and the Four Kinds—have at their core the theme of Jewish unity.

Children sing the song v’samachta. English translation “And you shall rejoice in your Festival… and you will be only happy.” (Deuteronomy 16:14, 15)