Sukkah: Living in Joyનમૂનો

The Joy of Unity

How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity! — PSALM 133:1

Like anything in Judaism, the sukkah comes with many customs and rules. For example, a sukkah has to have at least two-and-a-half walls, but preferably all four. A sukkah cannot be taller than 20 cubits (about 30 feet). But how wide can a sukkah be? The answer is: infinity.

In theory, a sukkah could go on forever! Theoretically, every person in the world could reside in one very large sukkah. And consequently, Sukkot is a holiday that celebrates unity and is all about inclusivity.

Sitting in the sukkah is likened to residing within God’s loving embrace. The walls that surround us are like the arms of God, sheltering, protecting, and loving us. What do we do while enjoying God’s embrace? We embrace each other. Inside the sukkah, there is no TV and no outside distractions. It’s a space where all we have is each other. We enjoy and appreciate one another. In fact, the Jewish sages teach that Sukkot, which is known as “the time of our joy” is really about “the joy of time,” relishing the time to fully be with each other.

The theme of unity is echoed in the holiday’s other most prominent observance: the gathering of the four species, from four different kinds of trees: citron, date palm, myrtle, and willow. In Scripture, we are directed to “take branches from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees—and rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days” (Leviticus 23:40). We bind the four elements together and bless them every day of the holiday.

The sages teach that each of the four species represents a different type of person. On Sukkot, we take them all together, signaling that we embrace all types of people. We also demonstrate that we are only complete when we are bound to our fellow human beings. Moreover, it is only when we have meaningful relationships with others that we can truly experience joy.

A person can have all the material objects in the world, but it is a miserable existence if it’s not shared with others. Indeed, one of the greatest sources of joy in life is the enjoyment of bonding with others. On Sukkot, we derive great happiness from being together with other people. This simple message is one that often gets lost in the hustle and bustle of life, but one that can transform the way we live throughout the year and the amount of joy that we experience in our lives