Another matter, “how fair are your feet in sandals [bane’alim],” with two closings [ne’alim].12This is a reference to the festivals of Passover and Sukkot; see below. Rabbi Ḥama ben Rabbi Ḥanina said: [This is analogous] to two merchants who entered a province. One of them spoke up and said to his counterpart: ‘If both of us open together in the province, we will bring down prices in the province.
Rather, you open for your week and I [will open] for my week.’13Similarly, Sukkot, which commemorates God protecting Israel in the wilderness after they left Egypt, should have been observed right after Passover, but in order for the festival to be observed with greater attention and fanfare, the Torah commanded that it be observed months later (Midrash HaMevoar). Rabbi Ḥananya son of Rabbi Aivi said: It is not written here: How fair are your feet in a sandal [bana’al], but rather “in sandals [bane’alim]”; two closings [ne’alim], a closing on Passover and a closing on the Festival [of Sukkot].
The Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: You close before Me on the Festival [of Sukkot],14Sukkot is the last of the three annual pilgrimage festivals (Matnot Kehuna). and I close before you on Passover. You close before Me on the Festival [of Sukkot], and I open, blow winds, elevate clouds, cause rain to fall, cause the sun to shine, cause plants to grow, ripen fruit, and set a table for each and every one according to his needs, and [provide] each and every body all that it lacks.
I close before you on Passover,15I close the heavens and stop the rainfall. and you go out, reap, thresh, winnow, and perform all your needs in the field, and you find it filled with blessings. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: The assembly [atzeret] of the Festival [of Sukkot]16This is a reference to Shemini Atzeret. should have been fifty days removed, corresponding to the assembly of Passover,17This is a reference to Shavuot, which is commonly referred to as Atzeret in Ḥazal (see, e.g., Mishna Rosh Hashana 1:2), and which is observed fifty days after the beginning of Passover. but the assembly of the Festival, because [these days] transition from summer to winter, it would not be feasible for them to go and return at this time.18It would not be feasible for people to have to return to Jerusalem for another pilgrimage festival fifty days after Sukkot.
To what is this matter comparable? It is to a king who had many daughters, some of whom were married [and living] in a nearby place, and some of whom were married [and living] in a distant place. One day they all came to ask after the welfare of their father the king. The king said: ‘Those who are married at a nearby place can go and return any time, but those who are married in a distant place cannot go and return any time.
Therefore, while all of them are here with me, we will all make a festival for one day and celebrate with them.’ So too, the assembly of Passover, since [the days] transition from winter to summer, the Holy One blessed be He said it is [feasible] for them to go and return at this time. However, the assembly of the Festival [of Sukkot], because [the days] transition from summer to winter, and the dust on the roads is difficult and the clods of earth are difficult [for travelers]; therefore, it is not fifty days removed.
The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘It is not [feasible] for them to go and return at this time. Rather, while all of them are here, we will all make a festival for one day and celebrate.’ Therefore, Moses cautions Israel and says to them: “On the eighth day it shall be an assembly for you” (Numbers 29:35). That is: “How fair are your feet in sandals.”