Chabad Inspiration
Happiness Hugs & Sukkot
Hi
Candle Lighting NY Metro October 11 6:02pm
Wishing you Gut Shabbos and Gut Yom Tov Sukkot
Happiness Hugs & Sukkot
There are three general levels of relationship between G-d and the Jewish people. The first is by fulfilling the Divine will and the commandments. Each Mitzvah strengthens your connection with our commander. The 2nd level is thru Teshuva. Returning to G-d even if we sinned. We sincerely apologize and we connect on a deeper level and our sins are forgiven or even erased.
But then there is the 3rd and deepest level. It’s a unity of the essence of our soul and the essence of G-d. It’s not about connecting thru fulfilling commandments or thru Teshuva. On this third level we are always united with G-d as one entity. It’s an unbreakable bond. One unity. One existence.
This deep level of love and connection is unconditional. We can not weaken it thru sin nor can we strengthen it. It transcends any limited action. A hug symbolizes this love. Because a hug is a full embrace, including the front and back of the person you are hugging. You hug and accept the other person in their totality. For who they are. As is. Unconditionally.
On Sukkot we go inside the Sukkah. Surrounded, embraced and hugged by the Sukkah walls. A Kosher Sukkah must have at least two full walls and part of a third wall. These three walls correspond to the three parts of our arm which we use to give a hug. The upper part, the hand and the palm. Despite the days of judgment of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, which seem to suggest that our Divine connection is judged and depends on our behavior, the Sukkah which follows immediately after Yom Kippur is G-d hugging us and telling us that you are always loved by G-d on the deepest level of a total embrace and a full hug of love even if we are not perfect. It is the unconditional love of our Heavenly Father to his beloved children.
Every moment we spend inside the Sukkah is a celebration of this unconditional love. By celebrating with joy and happiness on Sukkot we draw down upon ourselves the Divine blessings of joy and happiness for the entire new year.
May your Sukkot happy celebration and the shaking of the Lulov and Etrog which symbolizes the unconditional unity of the Jewish people bring you blessings of happiness and celebration for the entire new year.
Three messages based on the teachings of the Rebbe:
1) Sukkot is referred to as Zman Simchateinu the holiday of our joy and happiness. On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur G-d prescribes life. On Sukkot G-d prescribes joy and happiness. Celebrate every moment of Sukkot with joy and happiness and your new year will be blessed with joy and happiness.
2) In the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, all year round they would pour wine on the alter. On Sukkot they poured water. One of the qualities of water is that it is pure, unflavored. This symbolizes pure love which transcends taste and logic. Its G-d’s pure unconditional love for each Jew regardless of the flavor of our behavior. G-d is celebrating you! As you are his beloved cherished child.
3) On Sukkot we unite the Lulov palm branch, the Etrog citron the willow and the myrtle. This symbolizes Jewish unity. We all need each other. The Talmud teaches that all Jews are worthy of sitting in the same one Sukkah. Sukkot is a holiday of unity. Invite a fellow Jew to your Sukkah. It’s a time of reconciling and fixing our relationships. Unite with an old friend. You will enjoy the celebration with a deeper joy and sweetness.
Lchayim
Velvl
Rabbi Velvl Butman
Executive Director
Chabad Lubavitch of Westchester County
Sharing the joy and meaning of Judaism unconditionally!
Email: chabadofwestchester@gmail.com
Happiness Hugs & Sukkot
Hi
Candle Lighting NY Metro October 11 6:02pm
Wishing you Gut Shabbos and Gut Yom Tov Sukkot
Happiness Hugs & Sukkot
There are three general levels of relationship between G-d and the Jewish people. The first is by fulfilling the Divine will and the commandments. Each Mitzvah strengthens your connection with our commander. The 2nd level is thru Teshuva. Returning to G-d even if we sinned. We sincerely apologize and we connect on a deeper level and our sins are forgiven or even erased.
But then there is the 3rd and deepest level. It’s a unity of the essence of our soul and the essence of G-d. It’s not about connecting thru fulfilling commandments or thru Teshuva. On this third level we are always united with G-d as one entity. It’s an unbreakable bond. One unity. One existence.
This deep level of love and connection is unconditional. We can not weaken it thru sin nor can we strengthen it. It transcends any limited action. A hug symbolizes this love. Because a hug is a full embrace, including the front and back of the person you are hugging. You hug and accept the other person in their totality. For who they are. As is. Unconditionally.
On Sukkot we go inside the Sukkah. Surrounded, embraced and hugged by the Sukkah walls. A Kosher Sukkah must have at least two full walls and part of a third wall. These three walls correspond to the three parts of our arm which we use to give a hug. The upper part, the hand and the palm. Despite the days of judgment of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, which seem to suggest that our Divine connection is judged and depends on our behavior, the Sukkah which follows immediately after Yom Kippur is G-d hugging us and telling us that you are always loved by G-d on the deepest level of a total embrace and a full hug of love even if we are not perfect. It is the unconditional love of our Heavenly Father to his beloved children.
Every moment we spend inside the Sukkah is a celebration of this unconditional love. By celebrating with joy and happiness on Sukkot we draw down upon ourselves the Divine blessings of joy and happiness for the entire new year.
May your Sukkot happy celebration and the shaking of the Lulov and Etrog which symbolizes the unconditional unity of the Jewish people bring you blessings of happiness and celebration for the entire new year.
Three messages based on the teachings of the Rebbe:
1) Sukkot is referred to as Zman Simchateinu the holiday of our joy and happiness. On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur G-d prescribes life. On Sukkot G-d prescribes joy and happiness. Celebrate every moment of Sukkot with joy and happiness and your new year will be blessed with joy and happiness.
2) In the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, all year round they would pour wine on the alter. On Sukkot they poured water. One of the qualities of water is that it is pure, unflavored. This symbolizes pure love which transcends taste and logic. Its G-d’s pure unconditional love for each Jew regardless of the flavor of our behavior. G-d is celebrating you! As you are his beloved cherished child.
3) On Sukkot we unite the Lulov palm branch, the Etrog citron the willow and the myrtle. This symbolizes Jewish unity. We all need each other. The Talmud teaches that all Jews are worthy of sitting in the same one Sukkah. Sukkot is a holiday of unity. Invite a fellow Jew to your Sukkah. It’s a time of reconciling and fixing our relationships. Unite with an old friend. You will enjoy the celebration with a deeper joy and sweetness.
Lchayim
Velvl
Rabbi Velvl Butman
Executive Director
Chabad Lubavitch of Westchester County
Sharing the joy and meaning of Judaism unconditionally!
Email: chabadofwestchester@gmail.com