Parasha Thoughts
By Rabbi David Shasho
We are are right after Yom Kippur and Sukkot is in just a few days. We have a lot going on this time of year. How can we connect it all? We know that we had Rosh Hashanah first to crown Hashem as our king. Only after accepting Hashem as king did we ask him for true forgiveness on Yom Kippur which only a king can give. We also ask for life and prosperity in the coming year. Of course, as he is also our father, we ask him to have mercy on us as well.
Right after Yom Kippur is Sukkot when we rejoice in our forgiveness and celebrate with Hashem sitting in what is represented as the clouds of glory which protected us throughout the time we traveled in the desert. One of the reasons why we have seven days of Sukkot is to represent each one of the clouds that protected us. The numerical value of the word Sukkah in Hebrew is 91 which is the same number as Hashem’s two most commonly used names we use in tefillah combined together. During Sukkot, we are living inside Hashem’s protection and are surrounded by his name.
If we look at the Shemonah Esrai that we say every day, we will find a beautiful hint to this line up of holidays, starting with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Sukkot. At the end of the second blessing it says, “Melech, Ozer, Umosheah, Umagen†,Hashem you are our King, helper, savior, and our protector. If you look at this order we first accept Hashem as king on Rosh Hashana. We then need help during Aseret Yimei Teshuva, the ten days of repentance, to become better. We then need saving from our sins on Yom Kippur and last we sit in Hashem’s protection.
When praying everyday we should pay attention to these words and always remember throughout the year what we accomplished during these special days and know that Hashem is always there to help and save us from any situation that may come about. Let us all enjoy this coming Yom Tov by sitting in Hashem’s protection and rejoicing in our accomplishments.
Chag Sameach!