סוכות

Joy is mounting as preparations for Sukkos reach a feverish pitch. The highlight of this yom tov is, of course, the sukkah itself — a unique mitzva which involves the entire body. Even seemingly mundane acts of eating, drinking and sleeping are elevated to a spiritual plane, simply by virtue of being performed in the sukkah.

In the cozy confines of the sukkah, we are completely surrounded by Hashem's presence. The passuk says (Yeshaya 26:20) that when a person sits in the sukkah, he is likened to one who is locked into a room with Hashem Himself. Each word of tefilla uttered in these private moments is cherished by Hashem.

The Shulchan Aruch rules (Orach Chaim 639:4) that a person can choose to daven either inside or out of the sukkah. The poskim explain (Magen Avraham 14) that a person who can remain calm and focused in the sukkah should daven there, but if there is a shul in his city, he should preferably daven in shul.

What does this mean for us, living in cities where there are shuls on every corner? Is there any benefit to davening in the sukkah over davening in shul?

The answer is that tefilla exists in different forms, and should take place both in shul and in the sukkah. For the standard daily tefillos of shacharis, mincha and maariv, one is required to daven in shul with a minyan. But for the tefillos spoken from the heart, a sukkah is the perfect place. When a person sits in the sukkah and allows himself to feel enveloped in Hashem's loving embrace, he is filled with a sense of calm and connection and his heart opens up to talk to Hashem.

Meeting Room

The yom tov of Sukkos is an auspicious time for tefilla and hisbodedus. Every person carries his personal baggage of challenges, and the only way to rid oneself of struggles and pain is to talk it out with Hashem. Hisbodedus is calming, gratifying, and actually makes a difference. Choose a quiet time and place to talk to Hashem — pour your heart out to Him, describe your pain and all the challenges you're going through.

While many people feel comfortable baring their hearts to a close friend or mentor, it doesn't actually provide real or lasting benefits. Turning to Hashem is the only real solution, because He is the only One Who can really help. Every word we speak to Him is eagerly awaited and cherished, and those who turn to Hashem are never sent away empty-handed. There is no need to omit embarrassing details or hide any dark secrets, since our loving Father knows us intimately and accepts us unconditionally, despite our imperfections.

Davening for a Shidduch

Sukkos is a time to merit yeshuos — especially for those who have not yet found their match. The Torah commands us, "בסוכות תשבו שבעת ימים" (Vayikra 23:42), on which Chazal teach (Eiruvin 3b) that one should sit in the sukkah with his wife just as he sits in his home with his wife. This can be a single bachur or girl's perfect defense: "Hashem, I'm here! I did mine and am sitting in the sukkah. Please do Your part and send me my shidduch!"

Likewise, the Rebbe teaches (Likutei Moharan 1:48) that the mitzva of sukkah is a segula for children. Therefore, being in the sukkah is a potent opportunity to daven for a shidduch — the prerequisite for having children.

Although hisbodedus is something we can and should do at any time of the year, on Sukkos we feel so much closer to Hashem and it is easier to talk to Him. Let's use this time wisely and pour out our hearts to Hashem, so that when we will bid farewell to the sukkah, we will be zoche to bid farewell to our problems as well.

Proper Preparation

We spend so much time and energy in our preparations for the yom tov of Sukkos. How can we ensure that we will actually experience a meaningful and uplifting yom tov?

R' Nachman of Tulchin was a close disciple of R' Nosson of Breslev. One year, he spent the entire erev Sukkos building R' Nosson's sukkah. As he was sitting in the finished sukkah later, on the first night of yom tov, he mused, "After spending all day toiling over the sukkah, one feels a completely different ta'am in the mitzva."

But R' Nosson responded, "Clearly, you haven't yet tried spending all day davening to Hashem, 'Please allow me to feel a connection to the mitzvah of sukkah,' and you haven't felt the ta'am that comes after that..."

Our calendar is full of yamim tovim which we spend so much time preparing for — but when yom tov finally comes, we feel disconnected and empty (or too busy to even think). Taking the time to talk to Hashem is the best possible preparation for every yom tov or special mitzva. We must plead with Him to give us a ta'am in the time and ask Him for help in doing all His mitzvos properly and with joy.

We cannot fathom the tremendous impact we make in Shamayim by simply opening our mouths to speak to Hashem. All Heavenly gates are thrown open in merit of our tefilla, showering us with abundant blessings and goodness.

Kuntres Yom Tov Sukkos