We rejoice on all of the holidays, but during Succot there is an exceptional measure of joy. In fact, this is perhaps the most prominent aspect of the holiday. The prayers refer to Succot as ?our festival of rejoicing.?
Why does this joyful holiday immediately follow the High Holidays - Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur - a solemn period of introspection and penitence?
The process of purifying deeds and refining character traits entails a certain dampening of the spirit. When we reject negative personality traits, we lose some of the natural joy in life. The corrective process of teshuva (repentance) can have the undesirable side effect of weakening the soul's creative forces.
This phenomenon is analogous to the patient who underwent an arduous chemotherapy treatment to eliminate a cancerous growth. The therapy in fact stopped the deadly growth, but it also weakened positive, healthy powers of the body.
Therefore, the holiday of Succot - a time of holy joy and pleasure for the spirit - follows after the Days of Awe. The festival restores the soul's wholesome sense of joy in life, and in effect completes the process of repentance and atonement.
Why does this joyful holiday immediately follow the High Holidays - Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur - a solemn period of introspection and penitence?
The process of purifying deeds and refining character traits entails a certain dampening of the spirit. When we reject negative personality traits, we lose some of the natural joy in life. The corrective process of teshuva (repentance) can have the undesirable side effect of weakening the soul's creative forces.
This phenomenon is analogous to the patient who underwent an arduous chemotherapy treatment to eliminate a cancerous growth. The therapy in fact stopped the deadly growth, but it also weakened positive, healthy powers of the body.
Therefore, the holiday of Succot - a time of holy joy and pleasure for the spirit - follows after the Days of Awe. The festival restores the soul's wholesome sense of joy in life, and in effect completes the process of repentance and atonement.