Thoughts On Chag HaSukkos Based Upon The Shmuessen of Rav Noach Isaac Oelbaum Shlita

In Avinu Malkeinu we say, Avinu Malkeinu kasveinu besefer zechuyos. Meforshim ask why we ask Hashem to be written in the book of zechuyos? If we already did zechuyos, then Hashem will write us in this book, even without a tefilah for this. If, however, we didn't do zechuyos, then what will tefilah do to have us put in this book? Rav Yitzchok Hutner zt"l answers that we are not asking Hashem about the past. Rather, we are asking Hashem that in the future, we should be zoche to do mitzvos and maasim tovim. Asking that Hashem should write us in the Sefer Zechuyos, means to receive Siyata Dishmaya to achieve extra zechusim and maasim tovim in the future.

Rav Yankele Galinsky zt"l said a peshat from the Chazon Ish zt"l which is related to this. Oftentimes a Meshulach comes to a wealthy person asking him for a donation and is told to come back tomorrow. Why doesn't the gevir give the donation right away? Will he get so much more money tomorrow? The Chazon Ish said that it takes zechusim to give money to tzedakah, charity. It could be that this gevir doesn't have the zechusim to give money to tzedakah today. However, maybe tomorrow, after more mitzvos (such as davening or other acts of tzedakah), he will have enough zechusim to attain still one more zechus of giving money to this particular tzedakah.

As we will see, this is related to the theme of Sukkos as Zeman Simchaseinu. Why refer to Sukkos as Zeman Simchaseinu? What is so happy about Sukkos that it is referred to as the time of our happiness, even more than other Yomim Tovim? We can answer based upon a famous peshat from the GR”A zt”l. Meforshim ask why we celebrate Sukkos in Chodesh Tishrei if the Anenei Kavod came already in Chodesh Nisan? The GR”A zt”l answers that we are not celebrating or commemorating the original Anenai HaKavod. Rather, we are celebrating and commemorating the return of the Anenai HaKavod after they were removed due to the Chet HaEigel. Only after Klal Yisroel did teshuva in the days of Elul, culminating in Yom HaKippurim, were Klal Yisroel zoche to the return of the Anenai HaKavod. How do we know this happened on Sukkos? The GR"A explained that after Yom HaKippurim the Yidden were told about the Hakamas HaMishkan (11 Tishrei). Then they had two days to bring nedavos for the Mishkan (Baboker baboker). (11 and 12 Tishrei). Afterwards, all the nedavos were gathered together and ready for the Hakamas HaMishkan. (14 Tishrei). Finally on the next day (15 Tishrei), the Mishkan was built, the Schechinah came down there, and the Anenai HaKavod returned. This showed Klal Yisroel that the Chet HaEigel was niskaper, atoned for. {Thus, we don't have Sukkos in Tishrei, as the Anenai HaKavod we are commemorating are those that came on 15 Tishrei, after they left due to the Chet HaEigel.}

Keeping all this in mind, we can understand that Sukkos being Zeman Simchaseinu is related to this Kaparas Avonos. Since Hashem forgave our sins on Sukkos (due to our teshuva) and we are even able to have a return of the Anenai HaKavod, we are so happy and have a Zeman Simchaseinu.

Now we can understand the simcha of Simchas Beis HaShoeivah. In this happy occasion in the Beis HaMikdash, the Chasidim and Anshei Maaseh said that happy is one whose youth does not embarrass his old age. The Baalei Teshuva say, happy is someone whose old age causes the aveiros of his youth to be atoned for. Then both say, happy is one that did not do any aveiros and one that did aveiros should do teshuva and have Hashem be mochel, forgive his aveiros.

{What is the connection between Sukkos and the important messages of these people. According to what we have said, we understand the connection. Sukkos shows us how our aveiros can be nimchal, forgiven. This is one of the biggest sources of happiness, realizing that even our faults and sins can be forgiven through a real teshuva. Therefore, in the Simchas Beis HaShoaivah on Sukkos, great people sing and dance about doing maasim tovim and teshuva. This is based upon the lesson of Sukkos, which shows how even a sinner can return to Hashem and achieve complete atonement.}

We still have to explain why it was necessary for Klal Yisroel to have the Mishkan and the return of the Anenai HaKavod to see that their aveiros were nimchal. We know that already on Yom HaKippurim, Klal Yisroel achieved kaparah. Hashem said that Klal Yisroel were forgiven, and presumably they were informed of this. Why then is it so important for Klal Yisroel to see the return of the Anenai HaKavod to achieve happiness?

The answer is based upon what the Rabbeinu Yonah writes: It is possible that a person is forgiven for his sins and is not punished for them. Nonetheless, this person may not merit to have a relationship with Hashem. Hashem may forgive the person, which is certainly an important step, but still Hashem may not want to have to do with him. Lemashal, two neighbors have a big fight. Finally someone makes shalom between them, that they won't be fighting each other. Nonetheless, it is possible that they won't want to speak to one another or invite each other to their simchos. It is a higher level of shalom that they not only are not fighting or attacking one another, but also feel close to one another. The nimshal is that the first level of teshuva is that a person achieves kaparah that he won't be punished for his aveiros. Still he may be far removed from Hashem, and Hashem may not want to do anything with him. A higher level of kaparah and teshuva is when he has removed the stain of his sins so much that Hashem wants to be close to him and gives him Siyata Dishmaya.

Now we understand the significance of Sukkos. Even after Yom HaKippurim we only know that Hashem was mochel our aveiros that we won't be punished for them. Maybe, chas veshalom, we still would remain with being away from Hashem spiritually and not have Hashem want to be close to us. Having the Anenai HaKavod return showed us that we reached the higher level of Teshuva and Hashem wants us in His House, Keviyachol. Heviani HaMelech Chadarav. This is the higher level of Teshuva which leads to the ultimate simcha. {This is also related to Avinu Malkeinu... Sefer Zechuyos. When we deserve a connection to Hashem, then Hashem will help us to serve Him on the highest level.} We are mispalel that we should be zoche to a complete teshuva and the fulfillment of HaRachaman Hu Yakim Lanu Es Sukas Dovid HaNofales Bimhayra Beyameinu Amen.