The yom tov of Sukkos has passed; our sukkah boards taken apart and returned to the shed. We move back in to our large, furnished homes, enjoying the air conditioner or heat. And yet, we cannot just revert to our old selves. When we pass through a yom tov, we are meant to change, to be uplifted. What message can we hold onto from the beautiful yom tov of Sukkos? What lesson can accompany us through the long winter months ahead?
The gemara in Sukkah says that “teishvu k’ein taduru” – you have to sit in the sukkah the same way you sit in your house. This halacha teaches us that on Sukkos, whatever you would do in your house, you now do in the sukkah – eat, sleep, learn, etc. We also learn that if being in the sukkah would cause you discomfort, to the extent that had you experienced this discomfort in your home, you would leave it, then you leave your sukkah.
The Imrei Chaim says that the whole idea of sukkah is that it’s a “diras arai” – a temporary dwelling. During the year, we live in a sturdy house, which we view as a permanent dwelling. So, our outlook is that materialism is a real, lasting entity. Comes Sukkos and we are instructed to leave our homes and enter a sukkah, a temporary dwelling. We remind ourselves that all of gashmiyus is temporary, like vapor that seems to be real, but vanishes into thin air.
But what happens after Sukkos? We take down our sukkah, put it away, and move back into our regular homes. What now? Says the Torah, “teishvu k’ein taduru”- the way you sit in the sukkah, that’s how you are supposed to live the entire year! We must take the message of Sukkos into our spacious and comfortable homes; we must live with the hashkafa that it’s all temporary and not worthy of so much attention. Yes, even in our home, we are supposed to live with the sukkah attitude, that all of olam hazeh is a “diras arai”.
The Torah describes the yom tov of Sukkos as Chag Ha’asif, the yom tov of ingathering. When a farmer completes the season of harvesting and his silos are bursting with grain, it can be a challenging for him to remember that gashmiyus is unimportant. He worked hard, he feels accomplished, and it’s only natural for him to feel a bit smug and proud. So, Hashem instructs him to leave his home and go into the sukkah. Specifically now, when he finished gathering all his produce, he must remind himself that materialism is not the ultimate goal. Yes, we must work and toil, but what we get is all a blessing from Hashem for us to use to serve Him. Any materialistic success we have is a brocha; there is no room for pride. We take our blessings and use them for a higher goal, with the knowledge that our homes, our businesses and our bank accounts are all temporary.
As we go back to the routine of our day-to-day lives, let the message of Sukkos remain with us and serve as a guiding light. Don’t fall into the trap of materialism. We are not here forever; let us focus on what will remain with us for eternity.
