The Secret of Happiness

One of the Torah requirements on Sukkot is to be happy (Vesamachata bechagecha). How can one be expected to be happy if you have to leave your comfortable home and all its luxuries and live in a booth (Sukka) for seven days.
Sometimes,or most times we don’t appreciate what we have, until it is taken away from us. We may not appreciate our comfortable home and furniture but after living in a booth under the open sky during the chilly fall nights using basic furniture we realize how blessed we normally are and that makes us happy.
The truth is that only the realization that our protection is from the Almighty God can remove our worries about the uncertainties of our existence. The sukkah’s function is to instill this realization into us by reminding us of our nations history, of the successful journey through the inhospitable desert with Divine providence.
Don’t worry be happy, because the one dependable constant in our lives is Almighty God who neither slumbers or sleeps.

POTENTIAL OR ACTUALIZATION, WHAT’S GREATER?

A Message for Chanukah by Rabbi David Bassous
We are all aware of the famous debate in Masechet Shabbat 21b between Bet Shammai, who state that eight candles should be lit the first night and then reduced by one each night, and Bet Hillel who state that the first night we should light one candle and increase by one each night.
The Talmud quotes the rationale between them.
Bet Shammai is concerned by the potential amount of days left for the miracle. The first day of Chanukah that small jar of oil had the greatest potential – to last for eight days and this potential lessens each day, hence we celebrate its potential which decreases each day.
Bet Hillel was not so concerned by the potential for the miracle but by its actualization. How many actual days did the oil last? Each day that passed was a greater actualization of the potential that existed, and this is what we celebrate.
Whereas potential is important its actualization is even more important.
Many people, companies, countries have tremendous potential for growth and success. However; this by itself is no cause for celebration. Only when that potential is tapped and actualized then it is time to rejoice.
May we all tap our potential to the full and actualize it so that we will all have cause for celebration.

Some of the Many Reasons Why We Blow the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah

1. The Coronation of the King
On Rosh Hashanah, the anniversary of creation, we crown God as King of the universe. Just as trumpets are sounded at a coronation, the shofar announces God’s continued kingship.
2. Alarm Clock to wake us from Spiritual Slumber
Rambam states the shofar is an alarm that awakens us from our spiritual slumber calling on us to examine our deeds and correct our ways, as we return to God.
3. Reminder of the Giving of the Torah
We blow the shofar to remind us of the giving of the Torah at Har Sinai to rededicate ourselves to Torah study and to remind God of our original commitment and sincerity.
4. Reminder of the Messages of the Prophets
The shofar reminds us of the voice of the prophets, who like the blast of the shofar called upon us to correct our ways, follow God’s commandments, and act properly with others.
5. Reminder of the Cries over the Destruction of the Temple
The shofar’s cry reminds us of the cries and tears shed for the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, galvanizing us to bring Mashiach and hasten the rebuilding of the Temple.
6. Reminder of the Binding of Yitzchak
The shofar, made of a ram’s horn, reminds us of the binding of Isaac and the ram God provided as a sacrifice in his place. By blowing the shofar, we remember the faith of the Patriarchs and our own capacity for self-sacrifice.
7. To inculcate in us Awe and Humility
The shofar fills us with awe and humility as we contemplate the true infinitude of God, how He fills all space and time.
8. Reminder of the Great Shofar that will Be Blown at the FinalRedemption
We pray three times almost daily for God to blow the great shofar for our freedom. The shofar will be blown on the Day of Judgment when Mashiach comes. The blowing on Rosh Hashanah confuses the Satan inducing him to think that his job is over and stops him from accusing us.
9. Cry From the Heart
Usually when we say viduy they are just external glib words unaccompanied with any movement in ones heart. On Rosh Hashanah viduy is prohibited no mention of sin is permitted we are meant to look good and happy the main service of Rosh Hashanah is internal not external. The cry of the shofar should arouse the internal cry of teshuvah from deep within our hearts and souls.
See the Book of Our Heritage by R’ Eliyahu Kitov for more information

Sukkot – Festival of Booths

Sukkot, is a climax of all the festivals which commence with Rosh Hashannah.
When I was studying engineering in college in England, I had a Welsh professor as a tutor. He knew I was Jewish and he would ask me questions about some customs that interested him. He noticed one year that after being absent for Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur I was absent for another few days and asked me why. “It was one of our festivals” I replied. “Another festival!” he exclaimed. “It’s called Sukkot”. “Really,” he said “What do you do?”. “We build huts in our yards and dwell in them for seven days”. He scratched his head in astonishment “Why do you do that?”.
“It’s a remembrance that we don’t rely on our houses only for protection. We leave our physical quarters to get close to G’d and nature and we rely on His Divine providence to look after us.”
The reason for having a Sukkah, in which we spend much of our time for the week of the festival, is to commemorate the clouds of glory that surrounded the Jews while wandering through the desert for 40 years. By leaving our homes and transferring our lives to the Sukkah, we come to appreciate nature a bit more. We come to understand what a poor person feels when he lives in such a situation, being exposed to the natural elements, and most of all, we appreciate the blessings G-d has given us by having a home.
On Sukkot we abandon a home of comfort made of brick or wood and find shelter in a frail booth which the rain may flood and the wind overturn. On entering this hut we indicate our implicit faith and trust in our Maker, we submit ourselves to Divine protection.
“Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man from whom there is no help” (Psalm 146). But rather put your trust in the great G-d who is mighty and His promises are fulfilled, this teaches us to trust G-d irrespective of our station in life, whether we are richly endowed with worldly goods or troubled by want. Mastering this principle gives us satisfaction and happiness; therefore, this holiday is called the holiday of rejoicing.
Sukkot is another example of how Judaism asks more of us than just thought and verbalization, to experience the beauty of Judaism requires action.