בס”ד

Integrating Torah into one’s life through reflection and conversation can be an incredibly fun and engaging experience. It’s a journey of discovery, where ancient wisdom and timeless teachings come to life in our daily experiences. Through reflection, we have the opportunity to dive deep into the rich tapestry of Torah, extracting profound insights and lessons that resonate with our modern lives. The joy lies in the ‘aha’ moments, those instances when a Torah verse or story suddenly connects with our personal challenges, aspirations, and values. And when we engage in conversations about Torah with others, it becomes an interactive exploration, where diverse perspectives and interpretations enhance our understanding. These dialogues often spark excitement and intellectual curiosity, making the learning process both enjoyable and fulfilling. Torah becomes a vibrant and dynamic part of our lives, offering not just guidance but also a source of endless fascination, connection, and growth.

NOTE: Don’t feel obligated to go through every source or answer all the questions—unless you want to. Even one source, or one question will give you plenty of material for discussion and meditation. Enjoy this!

Some Thoughts on the Holiday

Sukkot and the Universal Shelter

In the Torah, Sukkot appears as a festival overflowing with mitzvot unique to the Jewish people — the sukkah, the lulav, and the special offerings. Each commemorates Israel’s journey through the desert, where they dwelled in temporary shelters and were surrounded by the Clouds of Glory. Yet within these very commandments lies a message that extends far beyond the Jewish people — a vision of faith that encompasses all of humanity.

During Sukkot, seventy bulls were offered over the seven days of the festival. The sages teach that these seventy offerings correspond to the seventy nations of the world. Each day, the number of bulls decreases — thirteen on the first day, then twelve, then eleven — symbolizing the decline of the material realm over time. In contrast, the lights of Chanukah, which increase each night, represent the growth of the spiritual. Together they reveal a pattern: as the physical wanes, the spiritual is meant to ascend.

This same theme appears in the prophetic readings for Sukkot.

Zechariah envisions a time when “all the nations shall go up year by year to bow before the King, the L-rd of Hosts, and to celebrate the Festival of Booths.” (Zechariah 14:16–17)

King Solomon prays that when “a foreigner who is not of Your people Israel comes from a distant land and prays toward this House,” G-d will hear his prayer and grant him blessing (I Kings 8:41–43).

And Ezekiel’s vision of the war of Gog and Magog — the ultimate conflict between arrogance and faith — is read during Sukkot itself.

The name “Gog” shares its root with the Hebrew word gag, meaning “roof.” A roof shelters, but it also separates. It closes a person off from the sky. The sukkah, by contrast, is defined by its open roof — the schach — made of natural material that allows sunlight and starlight to enter. It is a home that lets heaven in. Where gag represents human self-reliance, sukkah represents trust. It teaches us to find strength not in what we can build permanently, but in our readiness to live in G-d’s presence.

For Noahides, this is the heart of Sukkot’s universal message. The festival calls every human being to step out from the illusion of total control, to experience vulnerability as a doorway to faith. The walls of the sukkah are strong, symbolizing human resilience; its roof is fragile, symbolizing the humility that keeps us connected to the Source of life.

Sukkot reminds us that Divine protection is not found in stone walls or iron gates, but in the living relationship between the human heart and its Creator. The sukkah may be temporary, but what it represents is eternal: the courage to trust, the gratitude to rejoice, and the awareness that every breath of life takes place beneath the sheltering shade of G-d.

May all people come to dwell in that shade — the shade of faith and peace — and may the world be filled with the knowledge of G-d as the waters cover the sea.

Now, reflect on the following questions:

  1. What does the sukkah’s fragile roof teach us about the difference between human control and trust in G-d?
  2. How does the idea of seventy offerings for the seventy nations express the Torah’s vision for all humanity?
  3. In your own life, what are the “roofs” — the illusions of security — that prevent you from feeling the Divine presence?
  4. Why might G-d ask us to rejoice specifically while dwelling in something temporary?
  5. How can living with greater humility and openness — like dwelling in a sukkah — change the way we relate to others and to the world?

Shabbat Shalom!

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By Rabbi Tani Burton

If you want more questions for contemplation, SEE THE OTHER BLOGS FROM RABBI TANI BURTON ABOUT DE PARSHAT QUESTIONS

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