There are all types of Sukkah’s, some people make them simple, some make them supper fancy and even hang chandeliers from them. Basically the Sukkah has to have three walls and a roof made of natural foliage most commonly used are the palm trees or bamboo. The Sukkah is a very important mitzvah where the whole body is encompassed by it.
According to the profound teachings, the Sukkah contains big secrets, some of which we can comprehend with our limited minds. One of them is that the Shechinah (Divine Presence) extends its wings over us, otherwise known as the Hug of G-d.
As beautiful and chic a Sukkah can look,one thing is for sure, it’s just a temporary structure. If it rains you get wet, if it’s sunny you can feel it, if its cold or hot its uncomfortable. Sukkot comes to remind us that this world is just a temporary dwelling which depending of the life we live will take us to a place in the world to come.
There is a beautiful story told about the Yerujam of Mir. He was getting on a train and one of his gloves fell off his hand, when he realized he wouldn’t be able to pick it up he threw his other glove immediately. Someone that saw what happened asked him why he did that? The Rabbi answered “so whoever finds the glove can enjoy a complete benefit.”
When a person lives his life knowing that he won’t be here forever, that everything he does has a consequence and a ripple effect his life is a very different life, it is a very happy life. This is someone that lives in the moment and makes the best out of it, takes nothing for granted and appreciates everything, this person has the capacity to open space for others and care about even a stranger that can benefit from his loss because he knows that at the end nothing is his to own, only his actions are what he takes to the world to come.
And this is why this is a time to rejoice and its very important to be happy, it is a time where we open space in the Sukkah and we squish together in union and brotherly love.
Live a little higher
