HAG HASUCCOT/TABERNACLES

Vayikra/Leviticus 22:26-23:44

BAMIDBAR/Numbers 29:12-40

Zekharyah/Zech 14:1-24

MALACHIM/I Kings 8:2-21

Kohelet/Ecclesiastes 1-12

Rev. 21:1-4

Luke 2

Hashem spoke to Moshe saying, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: on the fifteenth day of the seventh month is the Festival of Sukkot, a seven-day period for HaShem.” (Lev. 23:33-34)

Sukkot is the last of the three festivals during which the Jewish people were to come up to Jerusalem and rejoice before G-d.

Also, Sukkot is the harvest festival, celebrating the end of the agricultural year before winter is upon us.  Sukkot, as the previous days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, are days of reflection.  The previous days were days of reflection upon our souls, our relationship to  G-d and to our fellow man.  During these days of Sukkot we are to reflect upon what G-d has done for us.  We are to remember that this world and all our possessions are temporary.

The Parasha begins in Leviticus, Chapter 22:26, With G-d telling Moses to give an acceptable offering.

At this time of our rejoicing we need to be mindful of not only rejoicing but our need to recommit ourselves to give G-d our best. Hebrews 11:4 begins with the statement that, by faith Abel offered a better sacrifice than Cain did, thus it was commended unto him as being righteous.

A faithful servant offers his best to G-d. In our studies; in marriage; in community service; in our vocations; and finally in our spiritual service to G-d we should always offer our best. We need to feel satisfaction that we are accepted by G-d and that we are pleasing in His sight by our acts of service to him by offering our best.  Let us all run the race knowing that we will be told by G-d, "Well done good and faithful servant.”

SHAVUA TOV

Rabbi Z.

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