The Mitzvah to live in the Sukkah for seven days is explained with the following verse:
“למען ידעו דרתיכם כי בסכות הושבתי את בני ישראל”
“So that your generations will know that I caused the Children of Israel to dwell in sukkot [when I took them from the land of Egypt]”
There is some Talmudic debate as to the specifics of this reference: One opinion understands this to mean the actual huts (sukkot), in which the people lived while traveling through the desert. Another opinion sees this as a reference to the Clouds of Glory, that surrounded the nation on all sides and protected them through their travels.
What is unavoidable, however (as it is stated explicitly in the verse), is that this Mitzvah hearkens back to the Exodus from Egypt.
If this is the case, it gives rise to a question: If the Mitzvah of Sukkah is related to the Exodus, that took place in Nisan, not Tishrei. Should we not have the Mitzvah of Sukkah on Pesach, marking the anniversary of our departure from Egypt and our initial travel into the desert?
Rabbi Yaakov ben Asher, in his monumental work Arba Turim, offers the following answer: Nisan is the start of Spring and many people would, in any event, move from their homes to outdoor structures (gazebos, tents, etc.), enjoying your meals in a Sukkah might seem like typical spring/summer behaviour. Tishrei, however, is the start of the colder/rainier weather. Sitting in the Sukkah in late September/early October is by no means typical behaviour (if this holds true for Israel and Vancouver, just imagine how our friends in Edmonton are faring)!
Therefore, concludes Rabbi Yaakov, we perform this Mitzvah now (in the Fall), so hat it will be obvious to all that observe us that we are doing so only to fulfill the commandment of our King, Hashem.
This idea should give us pause and force us to examine ALL of our Mitzvah performance. Are we doing this because we ‘like to’? Because we feel a social pressure? Because our parents did this? Or, are we performing Mitzvot out of our recognition of all the Hashem has done for us and, therefore, want to fulfil his requests to the fullest.
Just as sitting in a Sukkah when it is minus 25 degrees outside (sorry Edmonton…) is clearly to perform the will of out creator, we should make it our mission to perform every Mitzvah with the proper positivity and enthusiasm that all who observe will find it obvious…it is a Mitzvah!
Let us use the spiritual energy that we have built from Yom Kippur to infuse our Mitzvah of Sukkah, and ALL Mitzvot to follow with a new level of passion and excitement.
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach,
Rabbi Don Pacht