The feeling of real joy.

This week we start to celebrate the joyous holiday of Sukkot.

The Talmud tells us that “One who has not seen the joy of the Sukkot celebration in the Beit hamikdosh has never seen seen true joy in their life”

There are many beautiful elements of Sukkot. Each of them of them bring out an element of Joy.

Staying true to the actual name of the holiday, perhaps we can find a key to joy within the mitzvah of eating in the Sukkah.

While other mitzvot of Judaism, each address a certain aspect of our lives, the mitzvah of sukkah provides a medium by which the totality of man is engaged in the fulfillment of G‑d’s will. All of the person enters into and lives in the sukkah. “sukkah is the only mitzvah into which a person enters with his muddy boots,” goes the Chassidic saying. For the seven days of Sukkot, the sukkah is our home—the environment for our every endeavor and activity.

When we fully invest ourselves into what we are doing, and are fully present we can find serenity and joy.

We become much more productive and feel more fulfilled when we can zone in and focus at the tasks at hand. Instead of always worried about the next hour’s obligation or tomorrow’s worries, we zoom in on the present.

Let’s take this opportunity during this chag to celebrate, and be fully present and invested with our friends, family and those that need our assistance.

Chag Sameach !