A Succah, if properly utilized, can be a place of very great achievement. Here are a few ideas as heard from Rabbi Miller ZT”L on how to maximize this opportunity.

1. Keep in mind that every minute you spend in the Succah, you are performing a positive commandment from the Torah. The longer you sit there and contend “I am doing the will of Hashem,” you are getting more Mitzvot. The more kavanah/intent the greater the reward.

2. The Succah is a temporary dwelling which serves to remind us that this world is only temporary. It is the place we prepare, through improvement, in order to gain entry to Olam Haba.

3. The Succah is a symbol of being “in Hashem” all of our lives. “Hashem, m’aon atah h’ayitah lanu.” “You are our dwelling, You are our complete protection, You are all around us always.” “Hashem Echod,” there is nothing but Hashem in the world. “Yifros alenu succat shelomecha,” we are in Heshem’s Succah which is all around us.

4. The humility of the Succah is in order to humble us. Reminding us to act with kindliness and patience toward people in emulation of Hashem’s patience and kindness to us. The Abot lived in tents in order that they never forget that they are just visitors in this world.

5. The Succah means isolation from the nations of the world. “V’avdil etchem mikol h’amim,” “And I have separated you from all the nations.”

6. The ‘Peshat’ reason for the Mitzvah of Succah, is in order that we should know that Hashem caused Israel to dwell in Succot and took them out of Egypt. We should look at the schach/roof and remember, “L’maan yedeu derotechem,” that we were once in the wilderness unprotected and yet more secure than any other time in our history.

To Serve Hashem B’simcha/Joy, this is the greatest success!

Chag Sameyach!

Yom Kippur is the special day when we make Teshuba by:
1. Admitting our sins
2. Regretting what we did
3. Promising Hashem that we will not do them again

King David tells us the formula for successful Teshuba, “Sur me’ra vasse tob.” This means that before we can try to go ahead and do good things we must stop doing the bad things.

We can learn this important lesson from the service of the Cohen on Yom Kippur. The Cohen would take a goat, “Seir,” and throw it down the mountain where it was smashed to pieces. As a result, the whole Jewish Nation was forgiven for its sins. The question is why should throwing a goat off the cliff do anything for our sins?

The goat, “Seir,” is the symbol for Esav who was ‘hairy’ and lived on Mount “Seir.” Esav is the Nations of the world. When the Cohen throws the hairy goat down the mountain it is atonement for the Jewish Nation. This is symbolizing throwing the influences of the Goyim out of our homes and our lives. We shall rid ourselves of their bad influences and then Hashem will forgive us.

We learn from Abraham Abenu that what ever a person allows himself to see, hear or read will forever continue to exist in the filing cabinet of his mind. In fact, they will accompany us to Olam Haba. So now, before Yom Kippur, we should commit to being very careful what we put into our heads. This is a very holy place.

Tizku Leshanim Rabot