?Gladden us in proportion to our suffering.?
The three pilgrimage festivals - Pesach, Shavuot and Succot - are a single unit, starting with Pesach, the time of our freedom, continuing with Shavuot, the time of G-d?s giving the Torah, and culminating with Succot, the time of our joy.
First, at Pesach, we emerge from slavery to political freedom. Then, we merit spiritual freedom with the giving of the Torah. As our sages said, ??G-d?s script was engraved [charut] on the Tablets? (Exodus 32:16): Read not ?charut? [engraved] but ?cherut? [freedom].? By means of political and spiritual freedom, we merit enormous joy during Succot, the time of our joy.
Today, we have emerged from slavery to freedom with the establishment of the State of Israel, yet we shall not yet merit spiritual freedom until the Jewish masses take upon themselves the yoke of Torah and mitzvot. Thank G-d, more and more Jews are returning to Jewish tradition. The day is not far off when G-d?s promise will be fulfilled: ?As for me, this is My covenant with them, says the L-rd: My spirit it is which shall be upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your children, nor from the mouth of your children?s children, says the L-rd, henceforth and forever.? (Isaiah 59:20-21)
And may we subsequently be privileged to see the fulfillment of the verse, ?Gladden us in proportion to the days wherein You have afflicted us, the years wherein we have seen evil.? (Psalm 90:15)
Not just the Jewish People will merit to emerge from darkness to light, but all of mankind as well, who, due to Adam and Eve?s sin, were punished with bitter sorrow. As it says: ?To Eve He said, ?I will greatly increase your anguish and your pregnancy. It will be with anguish that you will give birth to children??. To Adam He said, ?The ground will be cursed because of you. You will derive food from it with anguish all the days of your life.?? (Genesis 3:16-17)
All of mankind will merit great joy, as it says, ?Let the L-rd rejoice with His works.? (Psalm 104:31) And when will this occur? When ?the earth is full of the knowledge of the L-rd like the waters covering the sea.? (Isaiah 11:9) This refers to the Messianic era, as is alluded to by the Messiah?s name [in Hebrew, Mashiach], which contains the three letters spelling same?ach - joyous.
And may our prayer be fulfilled: ?In gracious love, L-rd our G-d, grant us Your holy festivals for gladness and joy, and may Israel, who sanctify Your holy name, rejoice in You.? (Amidah prayer for the Festivals).
With wishes for a joyous Succot.
The three pilgrimage festivals - Pesach, Shavuot and Succot - are a single unit, starting with Pesach, the time of our freedom, continuing with Shavuot, the time of G-d?s giving the Torah, and culminating with Succot, the time of our joy.
First, at Pesach, we emerge from slavery to political freedom. Then, we merit spiritual freedom with the giving of the Torah. As our sages said, ??G-d?s script was engraved [charut] on the Tablets? (Exodus 32:16): Read not ?charut? [engraved] but ?cherut? [freedom].? By means of political and spiritual freedom, we merit enormous joy during Succot, the time of our joy.
Today, we have emerged from slavery to freedom with the establishment of the State of Israel, yet we shall not yet merit spiritual freedom until the Jewish masses take upon themselves the yoke of Torah and mitzvot. Thank G-d, more and more Jews are returning to Jewish tradition. The day is not far off when G-d?s promise will be fulfilled: ?As for me, this is My covenant with them, says the L-rd: My spirit it is which shall be upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your children, nor from the mouth of your children?s children, says the L-rd, henceforth and forever.? (Isaiah 59:20-21)
And may we subsequently be privileged to see the fulfillment of the verse, ?Gladden us in proportion to the days wherein You have afflicted us, the years wherein we have seen evil.? (Psalm 90:15)
Not just the Jewish People will merit to emerge from darkness to light, but all of mankind as well, who, due to Adam and Eve?s sin, were punished with bitter sorrow. As it says: ?To Eve He said, ?I will greatly increase your anguish and your pregnancy. It will be with anguish that you will give birth to children??. To Adam He said, ?The ground will be cursed because of you. You will derive food from it with anguish all the days of your life.?? (Genesis 3:16-17)
All of mankind will merit great joy, as it says, ?Let the L-rd rejoice with His works.? (Psalm 104:31) And when will this occur? When ?the earth is full of the knowledge of the L-rd like the waters covering the sea.? (Isaiah 11:9) This refers to the Messianic era, as is alluded to by the Messiah?s name [in Hebrew, Mashiach], which contains the three letters spelling same?ach - joyous.
And may our prayer be fulfilled: ?In gracious love, L-rd our G-d, grant us Your holy festivals for gladness and joy, and may Israel, who sanctify Your holy name, rejoice in You.? (Amidah prayer for the Festivals).
With wishes for a joyous Succot.