בס”ד
Sukkot is a very special holiday.
It is not only about the Jewish people.
It is also about all the people in the world.
Long ago, the Holy Temple stood in Jerusalem.
During Sukkot, seventy bulls were offered in the Temple.
The seventy bulls were connected to the seventy nations of the world.
The sacrifices brought blessing and protection to the nations.
They showed that all the good in the world comes from one Creator: G-d.
The Talmud teaches us something special.
If the nations had known how much the Temple helped them, they would have protected it.
The prophet Zechariah tells us about the future.
One day, people from all the nations will come to Jerusalem.
They will come to worship G-d.
They will celebrate Sukkot.
People from many different countries will come together.
They will know that G-d is the King of the whole world.
The Seven Noahide Laws help the nations know how to live in a good way.
They teach people to do what is right and to follow G-d’s ways.
We can start today.
For example, if we see someone who needs help, we can help them.
A small good deed can make the world better.
The Lesson
Sukkot teaches us that G-d cares about all people.
All people come from one Creator.
One day, all the nations will recognize G-d.
We can prepare for that day by doing good, helping others, and following G-d’s laws.
By Rabbi Moshe Bernstein and Angelique Sijbolts
Sources:
Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Sukkah 55b: “Rabbi Eleazar said: To what do these seventy bulls correspond? To the seventy nations of the world.” This passage establishes that the sacrifices offered during the holiday of Sukkot act as a channel of atonement, blessing, and Divine sustenance for all seventy primary nations.
Pesikta de-Rabbi Kahana 19: Highlights that if the nations of the world had realized the benefit and protection they received from the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, they would have stationed garrisons around it to guard it from harm.
Zechariah 14:16–19: “And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations… shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the L-rd of Hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.” The prophet details the Messianic era when all nations will recognize G-d’s ultimate Kingship and join in the celebration of Sukkot.
Isaiah 2:2–3: The prophetic vision describing all nations streaming toward the Mountain of the L-rd’s House in Jerusalem to learn His ways and walk in His paths.
If you want more questions for contemplation, SEE THE OTHER BLOGS FROM RABBI MOSHE BERNSTEIN
© Copyright, all rights reserved. If you enjoyed this article, we encourage you to distribute it further.
Our blogs may contain text/quotes/references/links that include copyright material of Mechon-Mamre.org, Aish.com, Sefaria.org, Chabad.org, and/or AskNoah.org, which we use in accordance with their policies.