Succot- Celebrating Forgiveness
Our Sages teach that the Sukka in which we reside during the holiday of Sukkot serves to commemorate the "Ananeh Ha’kabod," the special clouds that God provided for our ancestors as they traveled through the wilderness. These were not ordinary clouds. They miraculously protected Beneh Yisrael from enemy attack, the blistering heat, fierce winds, snakes and other creatures. According to some authorities, one must think of this miracle of the "Ananeh Ha’kabod" each time he enters the Sukka, in order to properly fulfill the Misva.
We might wonder why among all the miracles that occurred in the wilderness, only the "Ananeh Ha’kabod" are commemorated through a special Biblical command. The Manna – miraculous food from heaven – fell each morning (except Shabbat) throughout the forty years. Yet, while we observe several customs each Shabbat to commemorate the Manna, we do not find any specific Misva in the Torah to remember this miracle. Likewise, there is no obligation intended to commemorate the supernatural wellspring of water that accompanied Beneh Yisrael during their travels.
We should perhaps also ask why the commemoration of the "Ananeh Ha’kabod" is held during Tishri, in the autumn, six months after the Exodus from Egypt. These clouds encircled Beneh Yisrael as soon as they left Egypt. Why did the Torah want us to remember this miracle specifically in Tishri? And besides, aren’t there enough holidays in this month? Why are so many holidays concentrated in Tishri?
The Hid"a (Rav Haim Yosef David Azoulai, 1724-1806) explained that the Sukka commemorates not the "Ananeh Ha’kabod" per se, but rather the return of the special clouds after the sin of the golden calf. Just several weeks after receiving the Torah at Sinai, as they waited for Moshe to come down from the mountaintop, Beneh Yisrael fashioned and worshipped the golden calf. In response to this grave incident, God decided to annihilate the nation, and they were spared only through Moshe’s impassioned prayers. The Torah states that after this tragedy, Moshe saw that nation was "Paru’a" ("exposed" – Shemot 32:25). The Hid"a explains this to mean that the clouds of glory had dissipated. For the first time since the Exodus, Beneh Yisrael were exposed to danger, as God had removed their special protection.
Eighty days after the sin of the calf, on Yom Kippur, Moshe came down from the mountain once again, announcing that God had forgiven the people for the golden calf. However, the relationship was still strained, and the "Ananeh Ha’kabod" did not return. The next day, on the 11th of Tishri, Moshe assembled the nation and issued the instructions concerning the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. During the next two days, on the 12th and 13th of Tishri, the people donated materials for the construction of the Mishkan, and on the 14th, Moshe announced that no more materials were needed. The next day, the 15th of Tishri, God, seeing the people’s devotion and desire to return the divine presence to their midst, restored the "Ananeh Ha’kabod."
This is the reason, the Hid"a explains, why we celebrate Sukkot on the 15th of Tishri. We live in Sukkot to celebrate the return of the miraculous clouds of glory, which occurred on this day and signified our complete forgiveness. And this also explains the special Simha (joy) of Sukkot. There is no greater cause for celebration than the repair of our relationship with the Almighty.
When seen in this light, Sukkot emerges as an integral part of the "Teshuba season." On Yom Kippur we earn God’s forgiveness, but this does not mean that everything is back to the way it should be. It is only on Sukkot that God invites us into His home, as it were, into the Sukka. When two friends fight, even after they apologize and make amends, tensions persist. But when they decide to go out to eat together, to enjoy an afternoon of friendship, they know that the friendship has been restored, and they can truly rejoice. And this is the special joy of Sukkot. This holiday is "Zeman Simhatenu," our occasion of joy, because it is when we earn not simply forgiveness, but the full restoration of our special bond with the Almighty. Sukkot comes on the heels of Elul, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur because it completes the process of this period. After working to repent, pleading for forgiveness and earning atonement, we celebrate together with the Almighty, as it were, in the Sukka, exulting in our repaired relationship and renewed bonds of mutual love and affection.
