The building of the Sukkah is a fundamental component for the Joy of Sukkot. A Sukkah is a hut with three walls and roof of palm fronds, bamboo, branches, or reed. Some people begin building the Sukkah right after Yom Kippur so the first thing they do after 26 hours of fasting is a mitzvah.
The Sukkah reminds us of our temporality in this world. It reminds us that we are travelers and that our real home is not here in this earthly abode.
There is a story told of the Maggid of Mezritch in which a wealthy man came to visit him and he was shocked to see how this saintly sage lived with so little furniture. He offered to buy him some furniture but the Maggid of Mezritch asked the man to describe his home, which of course was a luxurious mansion, then he asked him to describe his accommodations while he traveled. When the man explained the question the Maggid said:” I see that your accommodations while traveling on business are much more modest than the place you call home. It’s the same with me. I am also traveling, one day you’ll come to my true home and you will see how completely different it is.”
In this world every Mitzvah we do builds our true home in the world to come, but at the same time it builds H”S home in this world.
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