Sukkot

Sukkah and Shemini Atzeres as outer and inner life· Essay 2

The eight days of the Chag (Sukkos, including Shemini Atzeres) give life to all the days of the year. The festival of Sukkos, spanning eight days, is the wellspring of spiritual vitality for the entire coming year. For the spreading forth o…

Shemini Atzeres: drawing infinite light into limited vessels· Essay 3

And in the Gemara and Midrash: "Make Me a small feast (seudah ketanah)…" The Sefas Emes opens with the teaching about Shemini Atzeres being like a "small feast" that Hashem asks Bnei Yisrael to make for Him — an intimate, contained gatherin…

Torah as inheritance and gift· Essay 4

Simchas Torah is to rejoice in receiving the words of HaKadosh Baruch Hu. The joy of Simchas Torah is not over our own accomplishment but over the privilege of receiving Hashem's words — the Torah itself as a gift from Him. For the essentia…

Torah's light fills nature itself· Essay 5

"Hashem came from Sinai and shone forth from Seir…" — Chazal said that He first offered the Torah to the nations. From the pasuk that describes Hashem's light shining from Seir and Paran, Chazal derive that Hashem first brought the Torah ar…

Sukkah completes Hashem's bond with Yisrael· Essay 2

The matter of the sukkah is like a chuppah, which completes the acquisition of a wife to her husband. The Sefas Emes compares the sukkah to a wedding canopy: just as the chuppah finalizes the bond between husband and wife, the sukkah finali…

Receiving life and unity on Sukkos· Essay 3

"And you shall take for yourselves... the fruit of a beautiful tree (pri eitz hadar)..." (Vayikra 23:40). The Sefas Emes opens with the mitzvah of taking the four species on Sukkos, focusing on the phrase "for yourselves." For on Sukkos Has…

Joy as the vessel for drawing divine light· Essay 4

The Simchas Beis HaSho'eivah (Rejoicing of the Place of Drawing), from which one draws ruach hakodesh (divine inspiration) — for simchah (joy) is the vessel with which to draw living waters, which is ruach hakodesh, as it is written: "And H…

The three festivals and the love of Hashem· Essay 5

The three Regalim (festivals) correspond to "with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might" (Devarim 6:5). The Sefas Emes maps the three festivals onto the three modes of loving Hashem listed in the Shema — heart, soul, a…

Shabbos tranquility and the hidden light of the week· Essay 6

"Better is a handful (kaf) of tranquility" (Koheles 4:6) — the Midrash expounded this about Shabbos. The Midrash applies the verse about "a handful of rest" to Shabbos, the day of nachas and tranquility. And why is it called "kaf" (an open …

The willow and the inborn bond beyond deeds· Essay 7

The mitzvah of aravah on Hoshana Rabbah — that our Sages, of blessed memory, chose the aravah (willow) more than all the other species. On Hoshana Rabbah the willow is singled out for special honor, more than the other Four Species. Even th…

The inner point revealed by stripping the outer· Essay 8

And it is written, "Fortunate are you who sow beside all waters, who send forth the foot of the ox and the donkey" (Yeshayahu 32:20). The Sefas Emes brings a verse praising those who "sow beside all waters," which he will read as an allusio…

Shemini Atzeres: receiving through yirah and bittul· Essay 9

Shemini Atzeres, after Sukkos: "It shall be an atzeres (gathering) for you" (Bamidbar 29:35). The Sefas Emes focuses on the word "lachem" (for you) in the command of Shemini Atzeres, which he will explain as something given uniquely to Bnei…

Simchas Torah joy guards the year· Essay 10

Simchas Torah is a preparation for the entire year — to be fixed and steady in Torah, as Chazal said regarding the verse "because they did not first recite the blessing over the Torah." The joy of Simchas Torah at the start of the year sets…

Torah as fire, joined through bittul· Essay 11

"From His right hand a fiery law unto them... Indeed, He loves the peoples... they gather at Your feet, he bears [Your words]..." (Devarim 33:2-3). The Sefas Emes opens with these verses from Vezos Haberachah, which he will expound: the Tor…

Choosing to surrender free will· Essay 2

Sukkos is a remembrance of the Clouds of Glory (Ananei Kavod). The mitzvah of sukkah recalls the protective Clouds of Glory with which Hashem surrounded Bnei Yisrael in the wilderness. And from where did Bnei Yisrael merit the Clouds of Glo…

The sukkah as testimony to true judgment· Essay 3

The sukkah is a testimony for Bnei Yisrael that they have been purified from their sin. Sukkos follows immediately after Yom Kippur. The mitzvah of sukkah bears witness that Bnei Yisrael have been cleansed of their sins through the teshuvah…

Sukkos as Hashem gathering us in· Essay 4

Sukkos is called Chag HaAsif (the Festival of Ingathering), for everyone gathers in all his produce to his home. The season of Sukkos is the time of the harvest, when a person brings in everything he has labored to grow and stores it safely…

Festival blessing empowers every Jew· Essay 5

Each person is obligated to be prepared to see the Face of Hashem on the festivals (mo'adim). The mitzvah of aliyah la'regel — appearing before Hashem at the Bais Hamikdash on the Shalosh Regalim — demands that every Jew make himself ready …

Receiving Hashem's bounty for the sake of closeness· Essay 6

Shemini Atzeres is the blessing (brachah) of the festival. The Sefas Emes opens with his theme: Shemini Atzeres functions as the brachah, the consummating blessing, of the whole Sukkos festival. For the mitzvah of Sukkah is to leave one's […

Torah as the eternal source of joy· Essay 7

As for why we make Simchas Torah now — The Sefas Emes opens by asking why the rejoicing of Simchas Torah is set specifically here, at the close of the festival. On the simple level: now we no longer have the simchah of the Chag and the nisu…

Heart, soul, might across the Yamim Noraim· Essay 8

A hint for Simchas Torah: "And you shall love Hashem your God with all your heart... your soul... your might," and "these words shall be..." (Devarim 6:5-6). The Sefas Emes maps the verses of Shema — heart, soul, and might — onto the avodah…

Torah as inheritance earned through self-refinement· Essay 9

"The Torah that Moshe commanded us is a heritage (morashah) for the congregation of Yaakov" (Devarim 33:4). The Sefas Emes builds the piece on this verse and the wordplay between morashah (heritage) and me'orasah (betrothed). My grandfather…

Sukkah as a place given to ba'alei teshuvah· Essay 1

Previously we spoke of the reason that Sukkos comes after Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The Sefas Emes recalls an earlier teaching about why Sukkos follows directly upon the Yamim Noraim. For ba'alei teshuvah have no place, and Hakadosh Bar…

Choosing penimiyus and unity on Sukkos· Essay 2

The matter of the sukkah and the lulav, as it is written: "And you shall take for yourselves." The Sefas Emes opens his discussion of the mitzvos of Sukkos with the Torah's phrasing "you shall take for yourselves," which he will show points…

Sukkos and receiving honor safely· Essay 3

In the name of my grandfather, my teacher and master, of blessed memory: that the three Regalim (festivals) are meant to nullify the three evil traits — jealousy, desire, and honor. The Sefas Emes cites his grandfather that each of the thre…

Elevating the lowest level· Essay 4

On the pasuk: "Wisdom is good with an inheritance" … "in the shade of wisdom, in the shade of money" (Koheles 7:11-12). The Sefas Emes opens from Koheles, which speaks of two kinds of "shade" — the shade of chochmah and the shade of money. …

Joy of Sukkos endures even in galus· Essay 5

The Simchas Bais HaShoeivah (the Rejoicing of the Water-Drawing), for from there they would draw ruach hakodesh (the spirit of holiness). The festive water-drawing celebration of Sukkos was a wellspring; from its joy the people would actual…

Shemini Atzeres, renewed avodah, and the Torah of the klal· Essay 6

The matter of Shemini Atzeres and Simchas Torah coming after the festival [of Sukkos]. The Sefas Emes asks why the joy of receiving the Torah is placed specifically at the conclusion of Sukkos. For it is brought in the Ra'aya Mehemna, Parsh…

Shemini Atzeres as crown of the festivals· Essay 7

The matter of Shemini Atzeres, which is a festival in its own right, and yet there are only three regalim. The Sefas Emes raises the tension: Shemini Atzeres has the standing of an independent yom tov, yet the Torah counts only three pilgri…

Swift purification of the ba'al teshuvah· Essay 8

It is brought in the Midrash [Tanchuma] that Shemini Atzeres should really have come fifty days after the festival, just as Atzeres (Shavuos) comes [fifty days] after Pesach, except that Hashem does not burden them [to make a pilgrimage] in…

Torah as the intimate gift from Hashem's mouth· Essay 9

And it is brought in the Midrash on the pasuk "Hashem grants wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding" (Mishlei 2:6): a parable of a king who distributes portions, and when his own son comes, he gives him from the portion tha…

The unbroken chain of tikkun in Klal Yisrael· Essay 10

In the Midrash on "V'Zos HaBerachah": one who passes before the amud (leads the davening) and errs — what should be done? Another passes in his place, [continuing from where he left off]... Moshe Rabbeinu opened with "Zos" with which Yaakov…

Chesed earned through din endures· Essay 1

On the pasuk, "so that they may know… that I caused them to dwell in sukkos…" The Sefas Emes opens with the verse (Vayikra 23:43) giving the reason for the mitzvah of Sukkah — that Hashem caused Bnei Yisrael to dwell in sukkos when He took …

Rejoicing in Hashem, not the garden· Essay 2

On the verse "You will make known to me the path of life…" — see the Midrash there on "And you shall take for yourselves the fruit of a beautiful tree…" The Sefas Emes connects "the path of life" (Tehillim 16:11) with the Midrash on taking …

Sukkah's lasting holiness in the home· Essay 3

The mitzvah of the sukkah grants a blessing and an illumination of kedushah (holiness) to a person's dwelling. Dwelling in the sukkah does not only fulfill a mitzvah for the moment; it draws down a lasting blessing and holy light into the p…

Refining the joy of Sukkos· Essay 4

"And you shall be only joyful." The Torah commands a simchah on Sukkos, but adds the limiting word "ach" (only/but), hinting that this joy must be carefully guarded. Because joy can spread and lead to throwing off the yoke, chas v'shalom, t…

Receiving chesed from merit, not need· Essay 5

"How precious is Your kindness, Elokim, and the children of man take refuge in the shadow of Your wings" (Tehillim 36:8). The Sefas Emes opens with this posuk, which speaks of the great preciousness of Hashem's chesed and of people shelteri…

Teshuvah transcends human effort· Essay 6

And in the Midrash, on the verse "You covered Yourself with a cloud, that no prayer should pass through" (Eichah 3:44). The Sefas Emes cites the Midrash on this posuk from Eichah, which speaks of times when a "cloud" blocks tefillah from ri…

Purified breath and the holy hevel· Essay 7

On the verse "Vanity of vanities, said Koheles, all is vanity" (Koheles 1:2). The Sefas Emes begins with the famous opening of Koheles, which declares all of this world to be "hevel" — vapor, breath, vanity. I heard from the holy mouth of m…

Sukkos as ingathering of the year's avodah· Essay 8

"And the Festival of Ingathering, at the turn of the year" (Shemos 34:22). The Sefas Emes begins with the Torah's description of Sukkos as Chag HaAsif, the festival of gathering in, occurring at the year's turning point. And in another plac…

The sweet voice of simple prayer· Essay 9

For Hoshana Rabbah, the mitzvah of the aravah (willow) — Chazal said the aravah corresponds to those who have neither taste nor fragrance. The willow, which has no taste and no smell, represents those Jews who lack both Torah (taste) and go…

Shemini Atzeres: clinging to the Giver· Essay 10

The matter of Shemini Atzeres — in the Midrash: "You have added to the nation, Hashem" (Yeshayahu 26:15), etc.; "It is upon You to add festivals for us," etc. The Sefas Emes opens with the Midrash that derives Shemini Atzeres from the idea …

Torah as the bond to supernal festivals· Essay 11

"And you shall be only joyful" (Devarim 16:15) — comes to include the night of the last Yom Tov, etc. — this is as explained above, that through keeping the days of the Festival properly, Chazal expound "ach sameach" to add the night of the…

Joy awakened through the longing of galus· Essay 12

By way of a playful homiletic, the nights of the final Yom Tov correspond to the End of Days. The Sefas Emes reads the last days of the festival as a hint to acharis hayamim, the final era of history when the light is hidden as if it were n…

Elevating the lower world before the self· Essay 13

On the verse "Indeed, He cherishes the peoples… and they are gathered at Your feet; he bears Your utterances…" (Devarim 33:3). The Sefas Emes opens with the verse from Vezos Haberachah describing Hashem's love and Bnei Yisrael being drawn a…

Accepting the yoke of Torah with joy· Essay 14

The matter of Simchas Torah: since these are days of simchah, we must now take upon ourselves the yoke of Torah. Because these are days of joy, they are precisely the right time to accept ol Torah (the yoke of Torah) upon ourselves. For eve…

Torah as the root of all creation· Essay 15

"In His shade I delighted and sat" — this refers to the days of Sukkos. The Sefas Emes reads the verse from Shir HaShirim (2:3) "b'tzilo chimadti v'yashavti" as alluding to dwelling in the sukkah, which is "His shade." "And His fruit was sw…

The sukkah as Hashem's protective garment· Essay 2

"So that they will know etc. that I caused them to dwell in sukkos etc. when I brought them out of the land of Mitzrayim." (Vayikra 23:43) The Sefas Emes opens with the pasuk that gives the reason for the mitzvah of sukkah — that Hashem set…

Accepting din earns the chesed of Sukkos· Essay 3

In the Gemara: "To You, Hashem, is the chesed…" — at first [the pasuk states] "You repay each man according to his deed," and at the end "To You, Hashem, is the chesed." The Gemara notes a tension in the verse: it begins with strict reward …

Joy of Sukkos follows purification of the heart· Essay 4

"The time of our rejoicing" (zman simchaseinu). The Sefas Emes opens with the description of Sukkos as the festival designated as the time of our joy. As it is written, "For the upright of heart, joy" (Tehillim 97:11). The verse teaches tha…

Three festivals uproot desire, jealousy, and honor· Essay 5

In the name of my grandfather, my teacher z"l: that the three Regalim (festivals) serve to nullify the three evil traits — jealousy (kinah), desire (taavah), and honor (kavod). The Sefas Emes cites his grandfather: the three pilgrimage fest…

Heading note for Shemini Atzeres remarks· Essay 6

A brief summary of words concerning Shemini Atzeres and the bris milah of my son Menachem (may he live) which took place on Hoshana Rabbah. This is the Sefas Emes's own editorial note: what follows are only abbreviated remarks delivered aro…

Shemini Atzeres as the eighth-day milah· Essay 7

Shemini Atzeres is the conclusion of all the festivals. Shemini Atzeres stands as the sealing point of the entire cycle of the moadim of Tishrei. And it gives blessing for the entire year. From this culminating day flows the berachah that s…

Festivals removing three orlos of concealment· Essay 8

The three regalim correspond to three worlds. The three pilgrimage festivals — Pesach, Shavuos, and Sukkos — parallel three spiritual worlds or levels of revelation. As it is said, "a great wind… after the wind an earthquake… fire, and afte…

Bittul and joy as the path to Torah· Essay 9

On the verse "And they were gathered at Your feet; he bears Your utterances — the Torah that Moshe commanded," etc. The Sefas Emes begins from the pasuk in Vezos HaBerachah (Devarim 33:3-4), the very Torah portion read on Simchas Torah, lin…

Sukkos teshuvah of love through closeness· Essay 1

In the Zohar, the sukkah is called "the shade of emunah" (tzila d'mehimnusa). The Zohar describes the sukkah as the "shade of faith" — a shelter that envelops a person in pure emunah and bitachon in Hashem. As it is written, "I remember for…

Sukkos as the reward of teshuvah· Essay 2

The reason that Sukkos comes after Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The Sefas Emes asks why the festival of Sukkos is positioned specifically following the Days of Awe, and proceeds to explain the connection. For one can only merit this dwelli…

Unity of the four species· Essay 3

The four species (arba'ah minim) serve to bind and join together the souls of Bnei Yisrael. The deeper purpose of taking the lulav and its companions is achdus (unity) — bundling together the different "types" within Klal Yisrael into one. …

Holy speech draws Divine inspiration· Essay 4

The Simchas Beis Hashoeivah (the Joy of the Water-Drawing) is the place from which one draws ruach hakodesh (Divine inspiration). The Sefas Emes teaches that this celebration was not merely about water; its inner content was the drawing-dow…

Taking the self toward Hashem· Essay 5

In the name of my grandfather and teacher, of blessed memory, on the verse "And you shall take for yourselves" (Vayikra 23:40). The Sefas Emes opens by citing his grandfather's teaching on the mitzvah of taking the arba minim (four species)…

Power of the humble aravah· Essay 6

Our Chachamim, of blessed memory, established to say the Hoshanos on these days. The Sages fixed the recitation of the Hoshanos prayers during the days of Sukkos. And "the words of the wise are like goads" — to hint, at each moment, to what…

Shemini Atzeres belongs to Bnei Yisrael· Essay 7

"On the eighth day there shall be an atzeres (assembly) for you" (Bamidbar 29:35). The Sefas Emes focuses on the words "for you," stressing that Shemini Atzeres belongs uniquely to Bnei Yisrael, unlike the days of Sukkos. For during the day…

The addition of Shemini Atzeres· Essay 8

In the Midrash on the verse "And I will add to all your praise" (Tehillim 71:14). The Sefas Emes brings a Midrash built on the word "add," which he will connect to the "added" festival day of Shemini Atzeres. For Shemini Atzeres is an addit…

Refined joy born of awe· Essay 9

"And you shall be only joyful" (Devarim 16:15) — to include the night of the final Yom Tov. Chazal derive from the word "only" that the obligation of simchah extends even to the night of the last day of the festival, Shemini Atzeres. The Se…

Pardes, the festivals, and Simchas Torah· Essay 10

"Hashem came from Sinai..." (Devarim 33:2). The Sefas Emes opens with Moshe Rabbeinu's blessing describing Hashem's revelation from Sinai, Seir and Paran, which he will tie to the four-fold depth of Torah. For Torah contains pardes (peshat,…

Affliction of Yom Kippur ripening into Sukkos· Essay 2

The sukkah is a hint to olam haba. The Sefas Emes opens by teaching that the sukkah symbolizes the World to Come. And therefore it must be preceded by Yom Kippur and "you shall afflict your souls" (Vayikra 16:31). Since the sukkah represent…

Finding one's portion through bittul to the klal· Essay 3

Regarding the lulav and its species. The Sefas Emes opens his discussion of the four minim (species) taken on Sukkos. For it is brought in the Midrash that they correspond to the different categories among Bnei Yisrael — some who have taste…

Sukkah as shelter of Divine chesed· Essay 4

Regarding the verse: "Who covers the heavens with clouds, who prepares rain for the earth," etc. (Tehillim 147:8) The Sefas Emes takes this verse as a key to the theme of Sukkos. We have explained it in connection with the festival of Sukko…

Teshuvah returns Bnei Yisrael to their root· Essay 5

Regarding the verse: "Go, eat your bread in joy," etc. (Koheles 9:7) The Sefas Emes applies this verse to the joy of Sukkos. It refers to the festival of Sukkos, the time of our rejoicing. Sukkos is designated as zman simchaseinu, the seaso…

Pure prayer of the simple Jew· Essay 6

The aravah (willow) corresponds to those who have neither taste nor smell. Among the four minim, the willow — lacking both taste and fragrance — represents Jews who have neither Torah (taste) nor mitzvos (smell). If so, what is their import…

Shemini Atzeres as supernatural addition· Essay 7

In the Midrash on the verse: "On the eighth day there shall be an atzeres (assembly) for you." (Bamidbar 29:35) The Sefas Emes opens with the Midrash on Shemini Atzeres. "You have added to the nation, Hashem, You have been honored," etc. (Y…

Rejoicing in Torah reveals Hashem's glory· Essay 8

In the liturgical formula "Blessed is our God, who created us for His glory." The Sefas Emes examines the wording of the berachah praising Hashem for creating us "for His glory." And one must scrutinize: was not everything created for His g…

Moshe embodies Torah's four levels· Essay 9

"And this is the blessing" — this itself is the Torah, as the Midrash says that the Torah is called "this," as it is written, "And this is the Torah," and there it mentions Moshe. The blessing with which Moshe Rabbeinu blessed Bnei Yisrael …

Torah received ripens into joy· Essay 10

The matter of Simchas Torah on Shemini Atzeres. The Sefas Emes opens by asking why the rejoicing over the Torah is set specifically on Shemini Atzeres. For on Shavuos there is the receiving of the Torah. Shavuos is the season of kabbalas ha…

The Sukkah's supernatural shade of emunah· Essay 2

Sukkos, the time of our rejoicing. The Sefas Emes opens by noting that Sukkos is designated specifically as zman simchaseinu — the festival singled out as our time of joy. For it is taught: every mitzvah that Yisrael accepted upon themselve…

Sukkos as days of refinement and salvation· Essay 3

Sukkos are days of yeshuah (salvation); therefore the Hoshanos were established for them. The Sefas Emes sets out his theme: Sukkos is essentially a time of deliverance, which is why we cry out "Hoshana" — "save us" — throughout the festiva…

Sukkos: Hashem grants renewed joy and desire· Essay 4

"In sukkos you shall dwell… so that your generations shall know that I caused [Bnei Yisrael] to dwell in sukkos…" (Vayikra 23:42-43). The Sefas Emes opens with the mitzvah of dwelling in the sukkah, whose purpose is that the generations sho…

Sukkah and lulav as elevation above nature· Essay 5

It is written: "And it was when Pharaoh sent out [the people] … and Hashem did not lead them … and Hashem turned the people about" (Shemos 13:17-18). The Sefas Emes opens with the verses describing how Hashem deliberately rerouted Bnei Yisr…

Sukkos: peace, ingathering, and the joy of Torah· Essay 6

It is written, "Hashem shall open for you … His good treasury …" (Devarim 28:12). The Sefas Emes opens with the verse promising Hashem's "good treasury," which he will connect to the festival of Sukkos. And it refers to this chag (festival)…

Simcha renews Torah and the year· Essay 7

On Sukkos — "the time of our rejoicing." The Sefas Emes opens with the festival's own name: Sukkos is the season designated for simcha, and that joy is the key to everything that follows. These are days of choosing and ratzon (will/desire),…

Joy as the source of Divine inspiration· Essay 8

It is taught regarding the Simchas Beis HaSho'eivah (the Rejoicing of the Water-Drawing) that from there one draws ruach hakodesh (Divine inspiration). The Sefas Emes notes the Chazal that the joy of the water-drawing celebration in the Bai…

Humble bittul as the ladder to salvation· Essay 9

Concerning Hoshana Rabbah. The Sefas Emes turns to the theme of the final day of Sukkos, Hoshana Rabbah, and its distinctive mitzvah of the aravah (willow). Chazal chose the aravah (willow), which alludes to those Jews who have in them neit…

Israel's bittul as living testimony to Hashem's kingship· Essay 10

On the verses: "All His holy ones are in Your hand... they are gathered at Your feet, each bears Your utterances; Moshe commanded us the Torah... the heritage of the congregation of Yaakov... and He became King in Yeshurun..." (Devarim 33:3…

Moshe, Torah, and Hashem's kingship are one· Essay 11

"And He became King in Yeshurun" (Devarim 33:5). The Sefas Emes examines this verse, which the commentators read in two different ways, and shows that both meanings are ultimately one. Some explain it as referring to Moshe Rabbeinu. One rea…

Baalei teshuvah enter the innermost place· Essay 2

It is written: "Fortunate is the one You choose and bring near, that he may dwell in Your courtyards." (Tehillim 65:5) The pasuk praises the one whom Hashem both chooses and draws near to dwell in His courts. And in the Midrash Bamidbar: "F…

Sukkos joy and the inner eighth day· Essay 3

It is written: "The heart knows the bitterness of its soul." The Sefas Emes takes this verse as a doorway to explaining the role of Bnei Yisrael as the "heart" of the world. For Bnei Yisrael are called "the heart," for they are the penimiyu…

Sukkos as the joyous expanse after the Yamim Noraim· Essay 4

It is written, "From the straits I called out to Kah; Kah answered me with expansiveness." The Sefas Emes builds on this pasuk from Tehillim, contrasting the cry from "narrow straits" with the "wide expanse" of Hashem's answer. The hint is …

Humility at Sinai cherished over breaking through· Essay 5

On the pasuk "Indeed, He loves the peoples [holy ones]…" — for it is written several times, "lest they break through to ascend…" The Sefas Emes begins from the verse in Vezos HaBrachah praising Hashem's love for His holy ones, contrasting i…

Expanding the Torah's greatness through the Oral Torah· Essay 6

This connects to what was said above regarding the teaching "The Holy One wished to grant merit [to Yisrael]…", "for the sake of His righteousness He will make the Torah great." The Sefas Emes returns to the Mishnah's statement that Hashem …

Leaving the permanent for the sukkah· Essay 9

The matter of going from one's house out to the sukkah — "leave your permanent dwelling" etc. Chazal teach that on Sukkos one departs from one's fixed home (dirah keva) and moves into a temporary dwelling, the sukkah. This act of leaving th…

Sukkah as Gan Eden and shared joy· Essay 10

The days of Sukkos are called "the time of our rejoicing" (zman simchaseinu), because Hashem granted us the merit to dwell in His shadow. The joy of Sukkos flows from the privilege of sitting under the shade of the sukkah, which the Sefas E…

Pure inner joy of the sukkah· Essay 11

Now, in Koheles it is written: "And I praised… joy" (Koheles 8:15). Shlomo HaMelech in one place lauds simchah as a praiseworthy thing. And it is also written: "And of joy, what does it accomplish?" (Koheles 2:2). Yet elsewhere the same Koh…

The hidden light revealed in the sukkah· Essay 12

Now, regarding the days of Sukkos it is written "seven days in the year" — something not written by any other festival. The Torah's phrasing "seven days in the year" is unique to Sukkos, implying that these seven days have a special bearing…

Joy born from genuine awe· Essay 13

The joy of the Chag is the testimony concerning Bnei Yisrael, as Chazal said that Hashem gave a sign as to who prevailed in the judgment. Chazal teach that the lulav and simchah of Sukkos serve as a "sign of victory" — proof that Bnei Yisra…

Festivals as pillars drawing kedushah· Essay 14

On the pasuk: "These are the appointed times of Hashem, holy convocations (mikra'ei kodesh), which you shall proclaim" (Vayikra 23:2). The Sefas Emes opens with the Yom Tov cycle, focusing on the word "tikre'u" — that Bnei Yisrael themselve…

Shemini Atzeres: joy beyond nature· Essay 15

"On the eighth day there shall be a gathering (atzeres) for you" (Bamidbar 29:35). The Sefas Emes turns to Shemini Atzeres, the eighth day that crowns the festival of Sukkos. In the Midrash: "You have added to the nation, Hashem [You have a…

Torah as living water of Sukkos· Essay 16

In the Mishnah: "And on the festival [of Sukkos] judgment is rendered concerning water" (Rosh Hashanah 1:2). On Sukkos the world is judged regarding rainfall — the Sefas Emes will read this as judgment over the inner "water" of Torah as wel…

Sukkos, the well, and creation's purpose· Essay 17

Further on the above matter: it is written in the Song of the Well, "and from the wilderness, a gift (mattanah)" (Bamidbar 21:18). Continuing the theme of the well, the verse hints that the Torah was given as a "gift" precisely through the …

Torah's blessing that bears fruit within· Essay 18

"And this is the blessing..." (Devarim 33:1) — in the Midrash, that the Torah came to bless Yisrael. The Sefas Emes opens on Moshe's final blessing, citing the Midrash that the Torah itself comes to bestow blessing upon Yisrael. For behold,…

Teshuvah draws down the sukkah's radiance· Essay 1

The mitzvah of Sukkah comes after the days of teshuvah. The Sefas Emes notes the calendar: Sukkos follows directly upon Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and this order is itself meaningful. This is based on the Gemara in Sukkah, on the verse "…

The sukkah as freedom above nature· Essay 2

It is stated in the Gemara on "For I caused [Bnei Yisrael] to dwell in sukkos" (Vayikra 23:43): there is an opinion that they were actual booths, and there is an opinion that they were the Clouds of Glory (Sukkah 11b). The Sefas Emes opens …