A New Look at the Deep Meaning of the
Feast of Tabernacles!
There is far more
meaning and deep spiritual significance to
the
Feast of Tabernacles than many have ever realized! In
this
article we explore the deeper, hidden meanings to this
Festival of God -- the
Feast of Sukkoth -- also called the "Feast
of
Ingathering" -- and the little understood rituals, laws and
commandments
that were commanded for this annual Holy
Festival -- Ha Hag
Adonai -- "The Feast of the Lord"-- also
called
Zeman Simchateinu -- "the Season of our Joy"! What
is
"sukkot" all about? What about
all the sacrifices? And
what
is the "lulav" and why is it important? Here is vital
new
spiritual TRUTH!
William F. Dankenbring
I
have been observing the "Feast of Tabernacles" ever since I first
proved that the annual holy days of God are still in operation and in force, in
our "Christian" age -- since 1958 -- when I observed my first Feast
of Tabernacles in Big Sandy, Texas, as a high school student. Since that time, I have observed well over 40
Feasts. I first learned of the Feast of
Tabernacles from Herbert W. Armstrong, from reading his booklet entitled
"God's Festivals or Pagan Holidays -- Which?"
In the many sermons I have heard
since that time at and regarding the Feast of Tabernacles, the stress was
always on the concept that this festival of God portrayed the millennial reign
of Christ -- the "
However, in the past few years, as I
have studied the festivals of God more closely, I have discovered that the old
ideas, concepts, and explanations of the Worldwide Church of God, and its many
off-shoots, today, have left much to be desired concerning the meaning,
symbolism, and rituals connected with this important Festival of God. Let us go back to the original commandment
concerning this festival, and see what has been missed, completely ignored and
totally overlooked!
Leviticus
23 -- The Feast
We read in Leviticus 23 concerning the Feast of
Tabernacles, the following statements:
"And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Speak unto the children of
Additional instruction in observing
God's festival is given in verses 39-43 of this chapter -- verses which have
generally been ignored and overlooked, and never explained. Notice what these verses add to the festival
commandment! "Also in the fifteenth
day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye
shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days:
on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the
eighth day shall be a sabbath. And ye
shall take on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees,
and willows of the brook; and ye shall REJOICE before the LORD your God seven
days. And ye shall keep it a feast
unto the LORD seven days in the year. It
shall be a STATUTE FOR EVER in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh
month. Ye shall dwell in booths seven
days; all that are Israelite born shall dwell in booths: That your generations may know that I made
the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land
of Egypt: I am the LORD thy God" (Lev.23:39-43).
In the 30 years I observed the Feast
of Tabernacles in the Worldwide Church of God, from 1958 to 1987, we were never
told about the command to take boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees,
and willows of the brook, and to use them in rejoicing before the LORD; nor
were we told how the Feast of Tabernacles relates to the journey of the
Israelites as they came out of Egypt, and dwelt in the wilderness for forty
years, living in "booths" or temporary structures, or tent-like
portable dwellings. This aspect of the
Feast was totally overlooked!
Solomon
and the Feast
The next mention of the Feast of Tabernacles in the
Scriptures occurs when Solomon dedicated the newly-constructed
Notice! They enjoyed the Feast of Tabernacles, the
feast of the seventh month, so much that they kept it for double the commanded
time -- fourteen days, instead of just seven!
The chronicler explains, "for they kept
the dedication of the altar seven days, and the FEAST seven days. And on the three and twentieth day (the day
after the "eighth day") of the seventh month he sent the people away
into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD shewed unto David, and to Solomon, and to
Ezra, Nehemiah and the Feast
The Feast was also kept in the days
of king Hezekiah (II Chron.31:3). Finally, in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, we
read, "They kept also the Feast of tabernacles, as it is written, and
offered the daily burnt offerings by number according to the custom, as the
duty of every day required" (Ezra 3:4).
This observance occurred after the return of many Jews from
Here again the Feast of Tabernacles
is described -- and the statement is made that the festival had not been
observed in this manner, with the construction of booths, since the days of
Joshua himself! Truly, in the days of
Ezra, there was a turning back to observe the laws of God among the people, and
much more attention was given to proper and correct observance.
Nevertheless, many of these features
of the Feast, as observed in modern times, have also been neglected by
thousands of God's people. How many
literally build "booths" to sit in, to discuss matters within, to
fellowship in? How many use the branches
of various kinds of trees to do so? How
many take various branches, and wave them before the LORD, in rejoicing and
worshipping Him? How important are these
things? What do they add to our over-all
understanding? How much have we missed,
by not observing these things circumspectly, and thoroughly?
Let's begin to understand! Let's begin to get it right!
History
and Tradition
Too many people try to look at God's Word, and His
commandments, in "isolation" -- without considering at all the
historical setting, and the observances and practices of God's people -- the
Jews -- and how they have historically and traditionally observed the annual
holy days. Many have dismissed anything
and everything "Jewish" simply because the Jews rejected the Messiah
and did not accept Christ as the Saviour.
Yet, Jesus Himself plainly said,
"Salvation is of the JEWS" (John
The Jews as a people, even though
most of them have never recognized Jesus Christ as the Messiah -- nevertheless,
they have preserved not only the Old Testament Scriptures, but also many
important historical writings, commentaries, and religious works, relating to
the Bible, and its observances and ordinances -- such as the Midrash, the
Mishnah, and the Talmud. Therefore,
when it comes to gaining insight and understanding of the Festivals of God, who
better to turn to than the Jews, who have been observing them for centuries --
and millennia? Here is a vital
storehouse of knowledge which the vast majority of Christians, including
festival observers, have totally ignored!
The apostle Paul was himself a
Jew. Did he disparage and denigrate the
knowledge of the Jews, when it came to the laws of God? Not at all!
In fact, Paul himself declared of the Jews, "Who are Israelites; to
who pertaineth the adoption, and the
glory, and the
covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the
promises" (Rom.9:4). Paul himself
even "boasted" -- and claimed, under divine inspiration of God --
"I am a man verily which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet
brought up in this city [Jerusalem] at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught
according to the perfect manner of the LAW of the fathers, and was zealous
toward God, as ye all are this day" (Acts 22:3). Paul had high respect for the Jewish laws and
knowledge of God. He did not reject all
the teachings and ramifications of Judaism -- not at all.
In fact, Paul even boasted, "If
any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I
more: Circumcized the eighth day, of the
stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as
touching the law, a Pharisee . . . touching the righteousness which is in the
law, BLAMELESS" (Phil.3:4-6).
Clearly, there is much we can learn
from our Jewish brethren -- even those who are at this moment still estranged
from Christ!
What do Jewish sources tell us
relating to the Feast of Tabernacles?
Let's take a careful and probative look, and examine the subject. In ignoring Jewish sources, we have missed
out on many profound truths about this Feast, and its Christian interpretation
and significance!
A New Look at Sukkoth
The Feast of Tabernacles came to be so important in the
ancient Jewish community, that it was known as "the feast of the
Lord," and was even called "the feast." The Hebrew word hag translated
"feast" literally means "to dance or to be joyous," and
comes from a root meaning "to dance in a circle, i.e., to march in a sacred procession, to observe a festival, by
implication, to be giddy:
celebrate, dance . . . reel to and fro" (Strong's Exhaustive
Concordance, #2287).
This final harvest celebration,
coming on the heels of the fall harvest, was a special time of joy for the
Israelites. The rabbis gave it the name,
Zeman Simhatenu, which means "the season of our joy." It was a
Say Mitch and Zhava Glaser in The Fall Feasts of
"If the theme of Rosh Hashana is
repentance, and the theme of Yom Kippur is
redemption, then most naturally the theme of Sukkot is
rejoicing in God's for-
giveness. The
gathering of the year's final harvest was a confirmation of God's
blessing upon the Jewish people for their obedience to His
law. Salvation and
obedience to God always leads to joy" (p.162).
In the book Celebrate!
The Complete Jewish Holidays Handbook, we read:
"Khag HaAsif (Festival of
Ingathering) was to take place once the produce of the
vineyards and product of the threshing rooms was collected
(Exo.23:14-17; 34:22).
Beginning
on the fifteenth of the seventh month, this Khag Adonai (Festival of
God)
would last seven days, the first a sacred occasion when no
work was to be done. The
Israelites
were to take the 'product of hadar trees, branches of palm trees, boughs of
leafy trees, and willows of the brook' (later called the
four species) and rejoice with
them before God.
"Then
another dimension was added as a 'law for all time.' For the duration of
the festival the Israelites were to live in booths (sukkot)
'so that future generations
will know that I made the Israelite people live in sukkot
when I brought them out
of the
` Lesli
Koppelman Ross, p.211).
This source continues, defining the Festival:
"The specifics of the Jewish harvest
festival were designed to protect the Israelites
from the pagan influences they would encounter once they
entered
heathens worshipped nature itself, the Jews were to worship
the Creator and Renewer
of nature. While the
pagans celebrated with excess and debauchery, the Israelite
pilgrims were to focus on the moral significance of the
festivities.
"The
purpose of rejoicing was not sensual abandon but to honor and thank God for
His
blessings, spread good fortune, and act with sensitivity" (p.212).
During the time of the second
"The four species (definitively
identified through Oral Tradition as palm, willow, and
myrtle bound together into a lulav, and an etrog [citron])
were now part of the ritual.
Each
day of sukkot, the priests, holding the lulav and etrog in hand,
marched around
the altar, which had been adorned with freshly cut willow
branches. As they circled, they
recited a psalm asking God to 'please save us' (Hoshiah
na)" (p.213).
Why are these "four species" used to celebrate
Sukkot? Says The Jewish Book of Why
by Alfred J. Kolatch:
"The use of four species of plants is
PRESCRIBED IN LEVITICUS 23:40: 'And you
shall take on the first day [of the holiday] the fruit of
goodly trees, branches of palm trees,
and boughs of thick trees [myrtle branches], and willows of
the brook, and you shall
rejoice before
the LORD your God seven days.' The Bible
does not specify precisely
which trees and fruits are to be taken.
"Jewish
authorities have interpreted the 'fruit of goodly trees' to mean the etrog [the
citron] , and the 'branches of [date] palms' to mean the lulav. The 'boughs of thick
trees' refers to the myrtle (called hadasim in
Hebrew], and 'willows of the brook' are
the familiar willow trees (called aravot in
Hebrew). These four species were to be
held in the hand and blessed each day of the Sukkot
holiday" (p.250).
In all the years I celebrated the Feast of Sukkot, or
Tabernacles, with the Worldwide Church of God, we NEVER paid any attention to
this DIRECT COMMANDMENT OF GOD! No
one, it seemed, read the passage in Levitics
Nevertheless, it is a fact that the
Sadducees disputed with the Pharisees over this issue. As Alfred Edersheim writes in The
"As usual, we are met at the outset
by a controversy between the Pharisees and the
Sadducees. The law
had it: 'Ye shall take you on the first
day the fruit of goodly
trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick
trees, and willows of the brook,'
which the Sadducees understood (as do the modern Karaite
Jews) to refer to the
materials whence the booths were to be constructed, while
the Pharisees applied it
to what the worshippers were to carry in their hands. The latter interpretation is,
in all likelihood, the correct one; it seems borne out by
the account of the festival
at the time of Nehemiah, when the booths were constructed of
BRANCHES OF
OTHER
TREES than those mentioned in Leviticus 23;and it was
UNIVERSALLY
ADOPTED IN PRACTICE AT THE TIME OF CHRIST" (p.273).
Always roiling the pot, the Sadducees were the original
gain-sayers -- the original "contrarians" who had their own ideas
about everything! The New Testament
points out that they were even disbelievers in a resurrection, did not admit to
the existence of angels or demons, and were, all in all, "ignorant of the
Scriptures" (see Acts 23:6-8; Matt.22:23, 29-31).
The Most Joyous Feast
Alfred Edersheim writes in The Temple: Its Ministry and Services, that the Feast
of Tabernacles was the joyous
"The most joyous of all festive
seasons in
It
fell on a time of year when the hearts of the people would naturally be full of
thanks-
fulness, gladness, and expectancy. All the crops had been long stored; and now
all
fruits were also gathered, the vintage past, and the land
only awaited the softening
and refreshment of the 'latter rain,' to prepare it for a
new crop. . . . If the beginning
of the harvest had pointed back to the birth of
forward to the true Passover-sacrifice in the future; if the
corn harvest was connected
to the giving of the law on
Spirit
on the day of Pentecost; the harvest-thanksgiving of the Feast of Tabernacles
reminded
on the other hand, it pointed to the FINAL HARVEST when
be completed, and
This great Feast, Edersheim points out, has a dual
meaning: It both reflects back on the
miraculous passage of Israel out of Egypt, and through the wilderness, as they
lived in rickety "booths" open to the heavens, and it depicts in a
very powerful manner the FINAL HARVEST OF
Isaiah the prophet speaks of this
great "fall harvest" in this manner:
"And in this mountain The LORD of
hosts will make for
of choice pieces, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat
things full of marrow, of well-
refined wines on the lees.
And He will destroy on this mountain the surface of the
covering cast over all people, and the VEIL that is spread
over all nations. He
will swallow up death forever, and the Lord GOD will wipe
away tears from all
faces" (Isaiah 25:6-8, NKJV).
During that coming age, Isaiah says, "They shall not
hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, for the earth shall be
Edersheim adds that this Feast, in
particular, was designed by God to illustrate the great harvest of all nations
to the
"Thus in its reference to the harvest
it is called 'the feast of ingathering' [Exo.23:16;
34:22]; in that to the history of
while its symbolic bearing on the future is brought out in
its designation as emphati-
cally 'the feast' [I Kings 8:2; II Chron.5:3; 7:8,9]; and
'the Feast of Jehovah' [so
literally in Lev.23:39].
In this sense also Josephus, Philo, and the Rabbis (in many
passages of the Mishnah) single it out from all the
other feasts" (p.269-270).
The Feast of Sukkot in Ancient Times
The Feast of Tabernacles was considered the most joyous
season of the entire year. With all the
electric anticipation along the caravan trails, the stirring religious
ceremonies, the inspiring singing of hymns, and the Levitical choir and
orchestra playing at the
"Each morning of Sukkot, the priests
went to the pool of Siloah (Silwan) near
Water Gate. They then
ascended and poured the water so that it flowed over the
altar simultaneously with wine from another bowl. When the priest was about to
pour the water, the people shouted 'Raise your hand!' because of an
incident that
occurred in a previous year:
The high priest Alexander Jannaeus (103-76 B.C.E.)
showed contempt for the rite by spilling the water at his
feet, a transgression for
which worshippers threw their citrons at him.
"The
pelted priest had demonstrated his alliance with the Sadducees, who literally
followed Torah and only what was specifically in Torah.
(Explained as an oral
instruction given to Moses at Sinai, this water rite was not
mentioned in The Five
Books.) The
deliriously happy celebration connected with the water drawing
developed when the Pharisees (who believed in the Oral
Tradition and interpretation
of Torah and gave us the rabbinic Judaism we know today)
triumphed over them
in the first century.
"Based
on Isaiah's promise 'With joy shall you draw water out of the wells of
salvation'
(12:3),
rejoicing began at the end of the first day and took place every night except
Shabbat. Talmud
recorded that 'one who had never witnessed the Rejoicing of the Place
of the Water Drawing has never seen true joy in his
life.' (Although the celebration
was for the libation that would be made the next
morning, it was named for the prepar-
ation for the ritual -- the water drawing -- which the
rabbis said showed that getting
ready was sometimes of greater merit than the mitzvah itself
because of its positive
effect on the person doing it.)" (p.213-214).
For this fascinating ceremony, four immense candelabrum were set in the
"A Levite orchestra of flutes,
trumpets, harps, and cymbals accompanied torchlight
processions, and men who had earned the capacity for real
spiritual joy through their
purity, character and scholarship danced ecstatically to the
hand-clapping, foot-
stomping, and hymn-singing crowds.
"We
do not imagine our distinguished sages as acrobats and tumblers, but they were
often agile physically as well as mentally. Rabbi Simon ben Gamaliel juggled eight
lighted torches and raised himself into a handstand on two
fingers, a gymnastic feat
no one else could master.
Others juggled eight knives, eight glasses of wine, or eight
eggs before leaders and dignitaries" (p.214).
Why was this ceremony called
"The Water-Drawing Ceremony"? Alfred
Edersheim gives us the emphatic reason, as understood by the Rabbis. He writes:
"For though that ceremony was
considered by the Rabbis as being a subordinate
reference to the dispensation of the rain, the annual fall
of which they they
imagined was determined by God at that feast, its main and
real application was
to the future outpouring of the Holy Spirit, as predicted --
probably in allusion
to this very rite -- by Isaiah the prophet. Thus the Talmud says distinctly: 'Why
is the name of it called, The drawing out of water? Because of the pouring out
of the Holy Spirit, according to what is said:
'With joy shall ye draw waters out
of the well of salvation."' Hence, also, the feast and the peculiar
joyousness of it,
are alike designated as those of 'the drawing out of water';
for according to the
same Rabbinical authorities, the Holy Spirit dwells in man
only through joy" (The
The celebration of the Water-drawing was a highlight of the
Feast. It was a happy, even ecstatic
occasion, with a torchlight parade, including musicians, jugglers, and dancers, marching to the
As the dawn of each day approached, the priests descended
the steps to the Women's Court, with trumpets blaring, and marched in
procession to the Eastern Gate of the Temple, and then turned their faces
toward the Temple, to the west, and proclaimed, "Our fathers who were in
this place stood with their backs to the Temple and their faces eastward and
worshipped the sun, but our eyes are unto the Lord" (based on Ezekiel
8:16).
The Seventy Sacrifices
Each day of the Feast of Sukkot, the
priestly procession would march around the altar one time, waving the lulav
branches and shouting praises to God.
But on the seventh day of the Feast, this circling procession was done seven
times -- instead of just once! At
the conclusion of the seventh circle, they struck the willows on the ground
around the altar.
During the Feast, a total of seventy
sacrifices of animals were performed -- understood to represent the seventy
nations of the entire world that came from the family of Noah.
The Feast of Sukkot has a
distinctive feature of universalism, and reaches out to all the nations of the
world. This concept is expressed in the
order of sacrifices enjoined during this festival period. On the first day of the Feast, 13 bulls were
offered, and each successive day the number offered was decreased by one. Therefore, during the 7 days of the Feast,
the bulls were offered as follows: 13 +
12 + 11 + 10 + 9 + 8 + 7 = 70 (see Numbers 29:12-34). The seventy bulls correspond to the seventy
original nations that were descended from Noah and his sons and who were the
ancestors of all the nations of the world.
Mitch and Zhara Glaser go even
further concerning the numbers of sacrifices.
They point out:
"The order of sacrifices on Sukkot is
spelled out in minute detail in the book of Numbers.
Never
before had so many sacrifices been required of
number of sacrifices were commensurate with
harvest.
"A
fascinating and mysterious pattern emerges from the seemingly endless list of
sacrifices.
No
matter how the offerings are grouped or counted, their number always remains
divisible
` by the
number seven. During the week are
offered 70 bullocks, 14 rams and 98 lambs --
altogether 182 sacrifices (26 x 7), to which must be added
336 (48 x 7) tenths of ephahs
of flour for the meal offering. . . .
"It
was no coincidence that this seven-day holiday, which took place in the height
of the
seventh month, had the perfect number, seven, imprinted on
its sacrifices. It was by
divine design that the final holiday . . . bore on its
sacrifices the seal of God's perfect
approval" (p.163).
Therefore, the Feast of Tabernacles
was a time of celebration and rejoicing in the Lord for
"The sacrifices made throughout the
week -- a total of seventy -- were understood to
represent the seventy nations that then existed in the
world. Their well-being, like
supplies. Blessings
like rain were understood as rewards for proper behavior (Deut.
punishment for the nations that fail to make pilgrimage to
Sukkot
to worship God, which would show that they accept His sovereignty
[
show their acceptance of God's sovereignty by going to His
Temple -- combined
with the connection between Sukkot and fulfillment, the
ultimate being messianic
redemption -- encouraged many proselytes to join the
pilgrims in
The connection of all nations with the Feast of Tabernacles
is clearly pointed out in the prophecy of Zechariah. We read that during the millennial reign of
the Messiah, after He has established the
"And it shall come to pass that
everyone who is left of all the nations which came
up against
of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of
the families of the earth do not come up to
of hosts, on them there will be no rain. If the family of
` enter
in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the LORD
strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast
of Tabernacles. This shall
be the punishment of
keep the Feast of Tabernacles"
(Zech.14:16-19, NKJV).
The Last Great Day of the Feast -- Hoshana Rabbah
The seventh day of the Feast of
Tabernacles is not an annual Sabbath day -- yet it has special meaning and
significance of its own. In ancient
times it was known as the "great day of the feast." Being the seventh and last day of the Feast
-- and the culmination of the Feast -- it represented in a unique way the FINAL
"Therefore,
the final day of the festival, when the last sacrifices were offered on
behalf of the other nations, was identified as the occasion when
the earth is
JUDGED
regarding replenishment
of water, and consequently, when mankind's
FATE,
collectively and individually, IS SEALED.
(Rabbinic
literature identifies
this Yom Darvata, Day of the
extension of Yom Kippur.) Striking the willows then had the added
connotation
of casting away of sin or symbolizing the thrashings one
would receive in punish-
ment for sin" (p.214).
The seventh day of the Feast is called "Hoshanah
Rabbah," meaning "the many hoshanahs." This is a contraction of hoshiah na -- or "The Great Salvation." During the Middle Ages, customs associated
with Yom Kippur -- such as dressing the Torah in white vestments, and the
cantor's wearing of a kittel -- were adopted for Hoshanah Rabbah, looked
upon as "the final day of judgment."
Says
Avraham Finkel in Essence of the Holy Days,
"Hoshana Rabbah, the seventh day of Sukkot, has a solemn
undertone, it is closely
linked to Yom Kippur, for it is on this day that the FINAL
SEAL is placed on the
verdict that was pronounced on Yom Kippur. . .
"On
Hoshana Rabbah we are mindful of the fact that during Sukkot, judgment
is
rendered concerning the rainfall for the entire world (Rosh
Hashana 16a). The
economic fortunes of the world depend on abundant rainfall,
so our prayers for
rain are of crucial importance for the global economy as a
whole and for Eretz
Yisrael in particular.
"This
is evident in the special prayers of Hoshana Rabbah. During the Shacharit
(morning) service
of the first six days of Sukkot, the entire congregation makes one
circuit around the bimah with lulav and etrog
in hand while the chazzan leads the
recitation of the hoshana prayer that is punctuated
by the congregation's saying aloud,
Hoshana,
'Please save!' On the seventh day of
Sukkot -- Hoshana Rabbah -- seven
circuits are made, hence the name Hoshana Rabbah, which
means 'many hoshanas.'
"In the hoshana prayers we ask
for rain, 'to give life to the forsaken wastes, to sustain
with trees, to enhance with sweet fruits, to rain on the
sproutings, to elevate the thirsty
earth.' After the
seven processions around the bimah, additional prayers are said, after
which the lulav and etrog are laid aside and
the hoshana bundle, consisting of five
willow branches, is picked up. The hoshana bundle is beaten on the
ground five times
in accordance with an ancient custom that was instituted by
the prophets Haggai,
Zechariah, and Malachi (c. 350 B.C.E.)" (The Essence of the Holy Days, p.94).
This
final day of celebrating the Harvest, and Ingathering, therefore, pictures the
final stage of God's plan of salvation -- the "Last Great Day," or
the "Great White Throne Judgment"!
It literally pictures the final day of "judgment" and sealing
those who will receive eternal life (compare Rev.20:11-15), as opposed to those
who will suffer the second and final death penalty (v.14-15).
This final day of "harvest
celebration" pictures the vast second resurrection -- the resurrection of
all people who ever lived, who did not quality to be in the first resurrection,
at the coming of Jesus Christ, the Messiah (Rev.20:1-4). All these others will rise up, to human life,
after the 1,000 year period (Rev.20:5-6).
They will be judged at that time -- the time of the "Great
Salvation," or "Many Hoshanas."
Mitch and Zhava Glaser tell us
concerning this day of Hoshana Rabbah:
"The seventh and last day of Sukkot,
known as Hoshana Rabbah, 'The Great
Hoshana,'
is somewhat a festival in itself. On
other days of the feast, when the
family goes to synagogue, one procession is made around the
sanctuary with
lulav and etrog while the congregation sings, 'Hoshianah,
save us.' This
particular tradition is believed to date back to the time of
the Maccabees, around
165
B.C.
"On
the final day, the entire congregation marches around seven times, carrying
even more willow leaves with them. These seven times, a memorial of the circuits
made by the ancient priests around the
of God's goodness in destroying
"After
the seventh time around the synagogue, the willow branches are beaten
until their leaves fall off -- a symbol of beating off our
sins and a prayer for
plenteous water for next year's willows. . .
"In
contrast to the festive days of Sukkot, Hoshana Rabbah is observed solemnly,
as
an extension of the Day of Atonement. On
this day, the rabbis tell us, the GATES
OF
JUDGMENT FINALLY CLOSE and the decrees pronounced by God on the Day
of
Atonement take effect" (The Fall Feasts of Israel, p.198-199).
Joel Ziff, in Mirrors in Time: A Psycho-Spiritual Journey through the Jewish
Year, tells us more about Hoshana Rabbah:
"The seventh day of Sukkot is known as
Hoshana Rabbah. On this day, the ritual
of
Hoshanot
[marching around the synagogue or room] involves seven circlings of the
synagogue
with the four species. At the end of
this ritual, willow branches are beaten
against
the ground. Hoshana Rabbah is viewed as
the END of the cycle which began
on
the first day of Elul" (p.235).
In other words, Hoshana Rabbah is
the culmination of the holy day season that begins with the month of Elul,
which is the preparation month for the great feasts of the month of
Tishri. Thus the process begins with
self-examination and repentance, enjoined on us during Elul, heightened with
Rosh Hoshana, and the trumpet warnings sounded on that day to
"repent" and draw close to God.
This "Feast of Trumpets" is followed by the Days of Awe,
leading up to "Yom Kippur" or the "Day of Atonement,"
picturing judgment and cleansing -- forgiveness to the deserving and judgment
upon the wicked. This is followed by the
joyousness of the Feast of Sukkot, but this time is terminated by the FINAL
"judgment" of Hoshana Rabbah!
In reality, then, we have the
following scenario:
1) Month of Elul -- 30
days -- warning to examine ourselves and come to
deeper repentance
2) Rosh Hashanah -- Day
of Blowing -- pictures final warnings of God symbolized
by trumpets of Revelation, call to repentance
3) Days of Awe -- final
warnings to prepare to meet the Messiah
4) Yom Kippur -- Messiah
returns, and judges the world, and marries His bride
5) Feast of Sukkot --
seven days of joyous exuberance and feasting -- symbolizing
Millennial Kingdom of
Messiah, and "wedding feast" of Marriage and Lamb
6) Hoshana Rabbah --
last great day of Sukkot -- symbolizes "Great White Throne
Judgment, when all who
ever lived receive opportunity for salvation
We read in the gospel of John that
Jesus Christ went up to the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem (John
7:1-9). Then, about the middle of the
Feast, He went up to the Temple, and taught the people (v.14-30). We then read this amazing truth:
"On the LAST
out,
saying, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me,
as
the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living
water.' But this
He
spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the
Holy
Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified" (John
7:37-39).
The "last day," the "great day of the
Feast," was Hoshana Rabbah! It was
the seventh or last day of the Feast of Tabernacles! Jesus therefore made this statement, about
the out-pouring of the Holy Spirit, on the last day of the Feast of Sukkot --
picturing the Day of Final Salvation, the Day of Great Salvation, and the Great
White Throne Judgment!
For more information on this, be
sure to read the article "The Annual Holy Days Reveal the Awesome Plan of
God," and the article entitled, "How Many Resurrections? The Mystery of the Resurrection of the
Dead!"
Spiritual Lessons from the Feast --
the Lesson of FAITH
God's Word specifically links the Feast of Tabernacles, or
"Booths," with the harvest ("Ingathering"), and with the
journey of the Israelites out of Egypt, when they traveled in "temporary
shelters" or "booths."
These "booths" themselves are also linked with the
harvest. In Celebrate the Feasts, Martha
Zimmerman points out that "Sukkot" was the name of a city or town --
and was the first "stopping off" place for the Israelites as they
left the land of Egypt (Exo.12:37).
We also read of a place named
"Sukkoth" in Canaan. This was
the city where, we read, "And Jacob journeyed to Succoth; and built for
himself a house, and made booths [sukkot] for his livestock, therefore
the place is named Sukkoth" (Gen.33:17).
Why does God command that we build
make-shift, fragile, temporary "booths" or "huts" during
the Feast? What is the lesson in
this? There is a very special, deep, and
profoundly meaningful lesson in the sukkah.
Notice!
"While the Israelites were wandering
the desert with nothing -- not even the ability
to
provide for their own basic needs -- they had to recognize and rely on God as
the
means
of their survival. He provided manna for
food (Exo.16:4-16), clouds for
shelter
(Exodus 33:4-17; Numbers 9:15-23), water to drink (Exodus 15:22-25; 17:5-7;
Num.20:7-12),
and conditions to prevent their clothing from deteriorating (Deut.29:5).
His
sukkot -- protection -- inspired in them the faith that they would reach
the designated
Land,
as promised.
"Once
they arrived, they planted and harvested foodstuffs, built houses, dug wells,
and
wove
and sewed garments. But they were not to
then feel that they were self-sufficient.
All
they created and enjoyed, while developed through their own efforts, was no
less
provided
by God than the desert sustenance had been.
Though much more obvious in
times
of want, the booths they lived in for a week each year were reminders of how
they
began,
and that regardless of their state, whatever they had came from the Supreme
Pro-
vider
and Protector. As Torah warned when this
was readily recognized, 'When you later
have
prosperity, be careful that you do not say to yourself, "It was my own
strength and
personal
power that brought me all this."
You must remember that it is God your Lord
Who
gives you the power to become prosperous' (Deuteronomy 8:17-18)" (Celebrate
the
Feasts,
p.216).
The lesson of the "sukkah" is that God is our
true eternal shelter. His protection and
providence is a daily need for each one of us.
He is the canopy over our heads, and our true protection from the
vicissitudes of life. True protection
does not come from four walls, whether they are concrete or wood, or
steel-reinforced. The solid walls of the
homes of the Jews in Germany or the Warsaw ghetto did not protect them from the
ravages of Nazi persecution and Hitler's death camps. In one moment, fire, flood, hurricane, or
tornado can rip apart a solidly built construction, and deal death to its inhabitants. True security comes only from God in heaven.
Therefore, the sukkah built during
the Feast of Tabernacles is to remind us of the true "sukkah" of
God's protection, and our dependence and reliance upon Him for safety and
survival. God delivered His people from
Egypt in fragile, flimsy, sukkahs, built of branches of trees and leafy boughs
-- teaching us and reminding us of the transitory fragility of human life, and
how utterly dependent we truly are upon the living God.
Mitch and Zhava Glaser in The
Fall Feasts of Israel declare:
"The impermanent, vulnerable, leafy
shelters were to remind the Israelites of God's
faithfulness
during their forty years of wandering in the desert. The booths symbolized
man's
need to depend on God for His provision of food, water and shelter. . .
"In
ancient Israel, booths were in common use throughout the land. The Hebrew word
sukkah
originally meant 'woven.' Temporary
shelters were woven together from branches
and
leaves to protect livestock (Gen.33:17), to provide resting places for warriors
during
battle
(II Samuel 11:11), to shelter watchers in the vineyard (Isaiah 1:8), and to
protect
the
people from the incessant heat of the merciless Middle-Eastern sun. During harvest
time,
Israelite fields were dotted with such booths, woven hastily together as
temporary
homes
for the harvesters" (p.157).
Rabbi Irving Greenberg declares in
his fascinating book The Jewish Way:
"The sukkah, the booth, is the
central symbol of the ancient Israelites' trust and hope
for
forty years in the desert. The Hebrews
left the protection of man-made thick
walls
to
place themselves under the protection of God.
Exposed to dangerous natural conditions
and
hostile roving bands, they placed their confidence in the divine concern, which
is
the
only true source of security. . . .
"The
halachic requirements for the construction of a sukkah attempt to capture the
fragility
and openness of the booths. . . By deliberately giving up solid construction,
Jews
admit their vulnerability and testify that the ultimate trust is in the DIVINE
shelter
[that
is, in God Himself]" (p.99).
Avraham
Vaakov Finkel in The Essence of the Holy Days: Insights from the Jewish Sages, tells us
more about the sukkah experience.
He relates --
"The sukkah is a reminder of
the huts in which God made the children of Israel
live
during their forty-year journey through the wilderness and of the Clouds of
Glory
that protected them on their wanderings.
As a Jew sits in the sukkah, under
the
shelter of the s'chach [roof], surrounded by family and friends, he
cannot help
but
feel God's sheltering Hand enveloping him.
His spirit soars as he realizes that
true
happiness is found only in the eternal values of Torah and mitzvot, that
material
possessions
offer no security, and that THE SHIELD OF FAITH is the only protection
he
can rely on. He is aware that, like his
stay in the sukkah, life on earth is unstable
and
transitory. Gazing at the stars
shimmering through the greenery of the s'chach,
he experiences a closeness to God that is
almost palpable. This nearness to God is
the
source
of his simchah, the exhilarating gladness that is the hallmark of
Sukkot" (p.80).
The sukkah is referred to as the "SHELTER OF
FAITH" in the Ohel Torah. Finkel
quotes the Kotzker rabbi:
"The sukkah is called tzila
dimehemenuta, the shelter of faith.
It teaches you to leave
behind
all your worldly concerns and to dedicate yourself to God with total
self-effacing
faith
in His mercy and compassion. If you have
attained this level of self-negating faith,
you
feel no pain or discomfort. That is why
a person who feels discomfort is exempt
from
the mitzvah of eating in the sukkah.
Feeling discomfort proves that he has not
reached
the point of total self-nullification.
"Because
he has not grasped the meaning of the sukkah, any further stay there is
of
no benefit to him. Therefore, he is
exempt from the obligation" (p.83).
Rabbi Chanoch of Alexander, in the Zohar, points out
that the sukkah is also looked upon as the "shade of
faith." This is because the
walls and roof of the sukkah are so fragile and impermanent and unstable
and precarious, that it expresses our complete and total dependence on God, and
our boundless trust in His protection.
Joel Ziff in Mirrors in Time, describes
the "sukkah" in terms of "change" in our lives. He shows how the experience of the
"sukkah" leads to our changing, and transformation, as human beings. He asserts:
"For the Israelites in the desert,
the sukkah provided a new home after they left
slavery
in Egypt. The sukkah links us to
that arche-typal experience of CHANGE.
In
this spirit, we begin to build the sukkah immediately after the end of Yom Kippur.
We
move out of the permanent shelter which we habitually regard as home. We
move
into a new home and establish it as a center for the activities of daily life .
. .
We
set aside a full week for prayer, celebration, and community.
"In
some respects, the image of the sukkah evokes the wandering in the
desert
associated
with the counting of the omer. However,
there are significant differences.
After
Pesach, we are thrust into an alien environment; we are confused and dependent.
. .
On
Sukkot, we experience our competence, autonomy, and power as we build our own
shelter. Our joy is built on a solid foundation as we
celebrate our achievements. The
image
of the sukkah as a symbol of CHANGE helps us become aware of how we have
been
TRANSFORMED as a result of the process of self-reflection which has just been
completed"
(p.236).
Says Joel Ziff, "We not only change, but we also enjoy
the change. The rituals [of Sukkot]
emphasize sensual pleasure and enjoyment.
They are performed with a focus on joy and celebration. We are encouraged to select a lulav and
etrog which are especially beautiful so as to enhance our pleasure"
(ibid.).
Ziff goes on, showing how the Feast
of Sukkot relates to "change":
"The experience of joy and
celebration on Sukkot helps us discover and express our
own
positive feelings. In the process of
self-development, it is important not only that
we
change; we must also experience those changes as positive, pleasurable, and
satis-
fying. As we change our coping responses, we also
experience a change in the results.
We
are better able to resolve the problem that previously overwhelmed or
frustrated
us. Our self-confidence and self-esteem is
enhanced because we feel more power and
competence
as well as the satisfaction of being able to make changes and take more
control
of our lives. The pleasure and
satisfaction we feel reinforces our commitment
to
the process and enhances our motivation and our energy. This joy is more mature and
dependable
than the joy we experience at the time of liberation from slavery or the giving
of
the Torah because it is grounded in the reality of human failure and the
capacity to
learn
from our mistakes" (p.237)..
Thus, the Feast of Sukkot pictures
our moving from faithlessness to believing, from joyless to being joy-filled,
from spiritual shakiness to spiritual strength, solid confidence and
security. The Feast of Sukkot is a time
to solidify and strengthen the spiritual CHANGES that God is working in our
nature -- putting on the New Man in Christ, and putting off the Old Man with
the lusts and sins of the flesh!
The Lesson of Sheer JOY
Concerning
the Feast of Sukkot, the Bible states, vehayita ach same'ach -- that
is, "and you shall remain ONLY JOYFUL"
(Deut.16:14,
15). In the King James Version, we read
in verse 14, "thou shalt rejoice," and in verse 15, "thou shalt
surely rejoice." The Jewish Tanakh
has this passage, however, as follows:
"After the INGATHERING from your
threshing floor and your vat, you shall hold
the
Feast of Booths for seven days. You
shall REJOICE in your festival, with your
son
and daughter, your male and female slave, the Levite, the stranger, the
fatherless,
and
the widow in your communities. You shall
hold festival for the LORD your God
seven
days, in the place that the LORD will choose:
for the LORD your God will
bless
all your crops and all your undertakings, and you shall have NOTHING BUT
JOY"
(Tanakh).
The command "you shall rejoice" is literally
"you shall remain joyful."
This turns the attitude of rejoicing into the permanent trait of
joyfulness in your personality. The
words "nothing but joy" means that this joyfulness in your character
and personality must persist, even under the most dire of circumstances or
duress of trials and disappointments in life.
Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch expounds
this passage in this way:
"The command 'you shall remain
joyful' turns your rejoicing into a permanent trait
of
your personality, and the words 'only joyful' mean that this joyfulness in your
character
will persist even under circumstances that would otherwise tend to cast
a
cloud over it. You will remain joyful in
spite of everything, 'only' joyful. Simchah,
rejoicing, is the most sublime flower and
fruit to open on the tree of life planted by the
Law
of God. In the same spirit, the
joyfulness to which the present verse refers is not
restricted
to festivals and festive gatherings but extends beyond the festive seasons
and
accompanies us back into everyday life, from the exuberance of the festive
assem-
blies
into the quiet privacy of our homes, and remains with us through all the
vicissitudes
of
life . . . to be joyful in spite of everything, whatever life may bring: vehayita
ach
` same'ach" (The Essence of the Holy Days, p.88).
This sublime and supreme joyousness was expressed at the
Feast in a special way during the "Water-Drawing Ceremony," every
evening and night of the Feast. Isaiah wrote, "JOYFULLY shall you draw
water out of the wells of salvation" (Isa.12:3). This was the theme behind the daily
water-drawing ceremony at the Temple. As
happy throngs filled the Temple, and the Levitical orchestra played on, with
giant lamps lighting up Jerusalem, the priests drew water from the pool of
Siloam, and carried it in a procession to the Temple, where it was poured upon
the altar, with huge blazing candelabra casting their magnificent light over
the proceedings.
Says the Mishnah, expressing
the euphoria and rapture of the event, "If you have not seen the rejoicing
of Bet Hasho'evah you have not witnessed joy in all your life" (Sukkah
53a).
Rabbi Irving Greenberg tells us of
the joy of Sukkot, pointing out that it reflects a "mature joy." He writes:
"One fundamental criterion of a life
well lived is love of life. It is
terribly important,
therefore,
to enjoy life as it goes along. Joy
cannot be postponed. Life as is is
of
infinite
value.
"There
is another dimension to the focus on joy on this holiday. Those who serve out of
obligation,
such as those who are in servitude, do not find joy in their work. The joy
of
sukkot reflects maturity. It is the happiness of the free person who
chooses to live this
way,
who prefers this mission to all other alternatives. There is an inner joy even in the
struggle
against obstacles, the joy of choice and of anticipation of the goal" (The
Jewish
Way,
p.114).
Greenberg adds:
"Constant renewal of joy makes life
on the Exodus road worthwhile in itself.
Thence
comes
the strength to persist. The suffering
self is, at some level, at war with itself
and
its biological -- if not spiritual -- need for satisfaction. The joyous self, properly
fulfilled,
can be UNIFIED in body and soul, and love God and humanity with the whole
heart"
(p.115).
The Talmud tells us, "The Shekinah (Divine Presence of
God) comes upon us neither out of sadness nor out of raucous laughter . . . but
out of the joy of mitzvah."
This lesson of joyfulness teaches us
that as Christians we ought to be joyful and filled with overflowing joy all
the year around, because of the steadfast hope we have in Christ. As James wrote, "My brethren, count it
all JOY when you fall into
various
trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience" (James
1:2-3). Peter pointed out that we are
"begotten to a living hope" (I Pet.1:3) through Christ "to an
inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away . . . In
this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you
have been grieved by various trials" (v.4-6). Peter says that these trials test the
genuineness of our faith, "though it is tested by fire, may be found to
praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen
you love. Though now you do not see Him,
yet believing, you rejoice with JOY INEXPRESSIBLE and full of glory" (I
Pet.1:7-8).
The apostle Paul tells us that one
of the chief fruits of God's Holy Spirit is real joy: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, longsuffering, goodness, faith, meekness, self control"
(Gal.5:22-23). Ezra told the people
assembled to observe God's Festivals, in his day, "For the JOY of
the LORD is your strength" (Neh.8ss:10).
The Feast of Tabernacles teaches us
to express and shower forth this exuberant joy!
The Third Lesson -- Love and The Four
Species
The four species of plants waved before the Lord, in
celebrating the Festival of Sukkot, are called Arba Minim in
Hebrew. Jewish rabbis have several
explanations for the meaning of these fruits and boughs. Symbolically, the four species represent the
four kinds of people that make up a congregation or community. The etrog or citron, a tasty fruit
which also has a pleasant aroma, represents the righteous people who have both
Torah (Bible) knowledge and good deeds (or works). The lulav, or branch of a date palm,
produces a sweet fruit, but has no aroma or fragrance. This represents the person who has Torah
knowledge (such as a scholar), but is lacking in good deeds. He is deficient in good works. Then the hassidim, or sweet-smelling
myrtle, is the person who has good deeds, but may not have much technical
knowledge -- this person does good works, but is deficient in knowledge or
scholarship. The majority of people may
fall into this category. Finally, there
is the willow, or aravot. This
species grows near the water, and needs water, but is odorless and tasteless --
representing the person lacking in both knowledge and good deeds.
All
four types of people can be found in a typical community or congregation. Says Finkel:
"Thus the lulav bundle symbolizes
the totality of the Jewish people, all extending
a
helping hand to one another, all striving toward the same goals: Fulfillment of
Torah
to the best of their abilities and thereby proclamation to all humankind that
God
is the Creator and Maker of the universe" (p.80).
In the book Celebrate! we
read of the profound significance of the waving of the lulav to the six
directions:
"The qualities of the four species
are likened to those of four categories of Jews.
The
etrog, possessing both taste and aroma, stands for Jews who have
knowledge
of
Torah and do good deeds. The palm's
fruit (date) with taste but no aroma,
represents
people with Torah knowledge. The myrtle,
with no taste but aroma,
represents
the opposite, and willow, with neither aroma or taste, stands for those
self-concerned
and ignorant of Torah.
"We
serve God with all four elements held together, the spiritually lofty with the
mundane,
the scholar, aristocrat, merchant, and laborer.
In society, all elements
must
likewise hold together, so that the wise and righteous can influence those
less
so, and because each contributes its part to society's functioning and progress
when
they UNITE for COMMON WELFARE. As our sages put it, 'As one does not
fulfill
his duty on Sukkot unless all four species are bound together, so some will
not
be
redeemed unless all Jews hold together.'
A strong message about the need for
UNITY
among our diverse segments"
(p.222).
Another analogy of the
"lulav" is to compare the palm branch to the backbone in the human
body -- which gives strength and uprightness -- righteousness. The myrtle then is compared to the eyes, with
which we see. The etrog is comparable to
the heart, with which we understand, have compassion, and empathize with
others. And the willow is comparable to
the mouth, which speaks words and communicates (or fails to do so). In this picture, then, we must use
A Spanish Rabbi, Aaron Halevi, at
the end of the thirteenth century, in a book called Sefer HaHinukh ("The
Book of Education") illustrated this basic, underlying principle in these
words:
". . . Since the rejoicing [of the
holiday of Sukkot] might cause us to forget the fear
of
God, He, praised be He, has commanded us to hold in our hands at that time
certain
objects which should remind us that all the joy of our hearts is for Him and
His
glory. It was His will that the reminder be the four
species. . . for they are all a delight
to
behold. In addition, the four species
can be compared to four valuable parts of the
body. The etrog [citron] is like the heart,
which is the temple of the intellect, thus
alluding
that man should serve his Creator with his intellect. The lulav is like the
spinal
cord [or backbone], which is essential for the body, alluding that one should
direct
one's entire body to His service, praised be He. The myrtle is like the eyes,
alluding
that one should not be led astray after his eyes on a day when his heart
rejoices. The willow branch is like the lips. We complete our actions through speech,
and
thus the willow branch alludes to the fact that we should control our mouth and
the
words that issue from it, fearing God, praised be He, even at a time of
rejoicing."
Learning to use all our resources and senses to serve God
is no easy task. Worshiping God with all
our being reqires diligent effort and focus.
Solomon wrote, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out
of it are the issues of life. Put away
from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee. Let thine eyes look right on, and let
thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil"
(Prov.4:23-27).
As the apostle Paul writes: "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in
your spirit, which are God's" (I Cor.6:20). Also, Paul wrote: "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or
whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (I Cor.10:31). Paul adds, "And whatsoever ye do,
in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to
God and the Father by him" (Colossians 3:17). This is a full-time commission -- a full-time
job!!!
Out-going and
Extended Love
During the Feast of Sukkot, the people of the congregation
take the Four Species -- the lulav, etrog, hassidim, and aravot -- and
hold the etrog or citron in their left hand, with the pitam facing
down, and the bundle of the palm branch, myrtle, and willow in the right
hand. After reciting the blessing, the
etrog is turned over, with the pitam pointed upward, and the bundle of
the lulav in the right hand is waved in front of the person, then in back, to
the right side, then to the left, upward and then downward -- the six
directions -- as they parade or march around the room, as our forefathers
marched around the altar at the Temple, singing praises and shouting hoshanahs
to God, "Save us,"
"Help
us," "Deliver us," "Blessed by Thy Name,"
"Blessed be the Name of the Lord," and so forth.
What does this picture for us? Marching around the room, or altar in Temple
times, pictures our faith in God, calling to Him to save us. On the final day of Hoshana Rabbah, as
we march around the room seven times, this reminds us of the Israelites, who
marched around the city of Jericho seven times -- and then they shouted,
Hoshana Rabbah, "Save us!" and God smote the walls of Jericho
and caused them to fall flat in a mighty earthquake! Performing this together, as one body,
pictures SPIRITUAL UNITY!
The fact that we do this together,
as a congregation, even as Israel marched around Jericho as a congregation,
reminds us that we are in this spiritual struggle and fight together -- we
need each other -- and we must help one another! When ancient Israel marched into the
Promised Land, so long as they were united, as one, and obedient, God gave them
miraculous victories over powerful nations.
But when disunity occurred, and some disobeyed, then even the
smallest city, like tiny Ai, could overwhelm and defeat the Israelite armies!
When we are united in truth, then we
are powerful by the Spirit of God flowing through us and out from us. Therefore, Paul wrote, "Now I plead with
you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the
same thing, and that there be no DIVISIONS among you, but that you be
PERFECTLY JOINED TOGETHER IN THE SAME
As David wrote, "Behold, how
good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in
UNITY! It is like the precious oil upon
the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the
edge of his garments. It is like the dew
of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion: For there the LORD commanded the blessing
-- Life forevermore" (Psalm 133:1-3).
Joel Ziff, in Mirrors in Time, tells
us how the experience of the Feast of Sukkot teaches us the lesson of
community, sharing, and loving one another.
He writes:
"We do not limit ourselves to the
symbols of support and nurturance; the sukkah
ritual encourages us to the actual
experience as we feed one another. We
invite
guests
into our sukkah and accept invitations [or we dine out together, and
enjoy
the
fellowship of one another] from our neighbors.
Difficulty in coping successfully
with
our stresses is often exacerbated by isolation and alienation. When we regard
our
problems as too overwhelming or difficult, we tend to expect others to be
disinterested
or
unable to help. As a result of the
changes we have made during the Days of Awe, we
are
more open, honest, and responsive.
Others who have similarly worked to change
themselves
are also more open, honest, and responsive.
On this Holy-Day, we strengthen
` the BONDS WITH OTHERS, feeling
the ability to GIVE TO OTHERS and to receive
from
them" (p.239).
Ziff continues this theme, showing how the Feast of Sukkot
focuses our attention away from selves and outward to others, teaching us the
lessons of giving and sharing. He
writes:
"In contrast to the inward turning
quality of the Days of Awe, on Sukkot, our energies
EXTEND
OUT. In the ritual of the four
species, we make the blessing and then point
the
lulav to each of the SIX DIRECTIONS -- south, west, north, east, upward,
and
downward. In the Hoshanot and in the Hakafot,
we circumnabulate the synagogue
in
a PARADE. We emphasize prayers for peace
and prosperity, for water for our crops,
not
only for ourselves as a people but for
extend
OUTWARD towards others as well. We
SHARE our meals in the
sukkah, and
we
join hands and voices as we celebrate with singing, dancing, and
merry-making. The
ritual
thereby helps us turn our energies outward as well. As we experience changes in
ourselves,
we begin to translate those changes into our activity in the world. We are
energized
by our experience and move naturally outward" (p.239).
Joel Ziff concludes this theme, saying, "Sukkot serves
as a BRIDGE by helping us translate our experience of Essence on Yom Kippur so
that we can apply and integrate what we have learned into everyday life
activity" (ibid.).
In other words, Sukkot teaches us to
express love, which is out-going, and which is the very nature and fundamental
character of God Himself.
As the apostle John wrote: "Beloved, let us love one another, for
love is of God; and everyone who loves is born [begotten] of God and knows
God. He who does not love does not know
God, for God is love. In this the love
of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into
the world, that we might live through Him.
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent
His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
"Beloved, if God so loved us, we
also ought to love one another . . . .
"God is love, and he who
abides in love abides in God, and God in him" (I John 4:7-16).
As Jesus said so plainly, we must learn to really
"love one another" (John 13:34).
He added, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you
have LOVE for one another" (v.35).
He added, "This is My commandment, that you love one another
as I have loved you. Greater love has no
one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" (John
15:12-13).
Jesus prayed to the Father than His
Church would truly be unified, even as He and the Father are in total unified
agreement (John 17:11). He prayed that
true Christians "all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You;
that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You
sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me
I have given them, that they may be
Peter put it plainly: "And above all things, have FERVENT
CHARITY [LOVE] among yourselves: for
charity shall cover the multitude of sins" (I Peter 4:8). And as Paul wrote: "And above all these things put on
CHARITY [LOVE], which is the bond of perfectness" (Col.3:14).
True brotherly love creates perfect
unity. The strong help to uphold the
weak, the rich help to support the poor, and everybody adds his particular
strength and gift and talent to the pool, so that all may be nourished and
strengthened in faith, hope, and love.
The apostle Paul sums it up
nicely. He wrote: "Love suffers long and is kind; love
does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave
rudely; does not seek its own; is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not
rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all
things, endures all things. Love never
fails. . . .
"And now abide faith, hope,
love, these three: but the greatest of
these is love" (I Cor.13:4-13).
The "booths" of the Feast
remind us of our need for FAITH. The
command to "rejoice" reminds us of our eternal HOPE, our calling and
destiny in life, by the grace of God and His goodness. The "lulav" reminds us of our need
to develop LOVE for others in our heart and soul -- true godly compassion and chesed
-- which is translated "loving-kindness."
The Feast of Sukkot -- an Awesome New Vitality
There is far more meaning and
significance to the Feast of Sukkot than most of us, if not all of us, have
begun to imagine in our wildest dreams.
Even the "lulav" ceremony itself -- something which most
Christians are totally ignorant of -- contains tremendous depth of meaning and
spiritual significance -- more than any of us have even begun to remotely
imagine!
In summation, the Feast of
Tabernacles comprises three powerful spiritual lessons: It is "The Feast of Faith," and
"The Feast of Joy," and "The Feast of Love." It contains vital elements expressing all of
these major themes.
We are commanded to build a
temporary Sukkot -- this teaches us the lesson of FAITH.
We are commanded to
"rejoice" -- teaching us the lesson of JOY, related to our HOPE.
We are commanded to rejoice with
"lulav" branches, waving them in the six directions, out and away
from ourselves -- teaching us the lesson of out-going concern for others --
true LOVE.
What an awesome Feast! Isn't it time we begin to really celebrate
this Festival of God -- this Hag HaAdonai -- with the depth and emotion and joy
and understanding that God intends for us to have?
Blessed be the Name of the LORD!
Baruch Attah Adonai, Yavenu,
Elohenu, Avenu, Melchenu, Melek ha Olam!