Ever feel like you're doing something... for someone else? Like you're going through the motions, but the joy, the connection, the meaning is somehow... absent?
Well, our Sages grappled with that very idea when it came to Sukkot, the Festival of Booths. Sukkot, as you probably know, is that joyous week where we dwell in temporary shelters, remembering the Israelites' journey through the desert after the Exodus. We wave the lulav and etrog, we share meals with friends and family. But who are we really doing it for?
Deuteronomy (Devarim) 16:13 tells us, "The festival of Sukkot shall you make for yourself, seven days." Now, on the face of it, that seems pretty straightforward. It's your festival, your celebration.
But hold on a second.
Leviticus (Vayikra) 23:34 states, "The festival of Sukkot, seven days, for the Most High." Uh oh. A potential conflict! Is this festival for us, or for God?
This is precisely the question the Sifrei Devarim, a collection of legal midrashim on the Book of Deuteronomy, tackles. Why, it asks, does the Torah need to emphasize "shall you make for yourself" if it's already understood to be our festival?
The answer, as our tradition often reveals, lies in the delicate balance between the divine and the human. We might mistakenly think that because Leviticus says it's "for the Most High," the entire experience should be focused solely on some abstract notion of divine service. That we should forgo personal joy, comfort, and connection.
But the Torah, in its infinite wisdom, reminds us: "Shall you make for yourself." This isn't about empty ritual or selfless sacrifice. It's about personal connection.
It’s about internalizing the lessons of the Exodus, of gratitude, of vulnerability. It's about finding joy in the midst of impermanence, connecting with our history and our community, and experiencing the presence of the Divine in our own lives.
So, as you sit in your sukkah, surrounded by loved ones, remember: yes, this is a festival dedicated to the Most High. But it's also a festival dedicated to you. To your growth, your joy, your connection. Make it your own. Let the light of the Sukkot illuminate your soul.