When the Jewish people returned to Israel in the time of Ezra, they once again erected sukkot. As it says (Nehemia 8:17): "The entire congregation of returnees from the captivity made sukkot and dwelt in the sukkot; for the Children of Israel had not done this from the days of Yehoshua bin Nun until that day; there was extremely great rejoicing."
How can it be that the Jewish people hadn't kept the mitzvah of sukkah for over 900 years?

This can be understood by the explanation for the mitzvah given by Rabbi Abuhav (Menorat Hamaor 3,4,1). He explains that the idea of a sukkah is that a person should leave the security of his home in order to place himself in the hands of God for protection against the elements.

The common denominator between the generation of Yehoshua and Ezra is that these were both generations of Aliya. These are the two generations in history that were willing to sacrifice their previously sheltered environment and make Aliya. And, therefore, it was these two generations who were able to appreciate the mitzvah of sukkah like no one else.

Our generation is the third generation in history that has left the exile in order to put our lives in the hands of God here in Israel . So we too can appreciate with "extremely great rejoicing" the mitzvah of sukka in our day in its revival after nearly two thousand years.

As a result, may we speedily witness God’s return to His sukkah - the majestic sukkah of Jerusalem , as it says: "In Shalem is His Tabernacle and His dwelling place is in Zion ."

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This is a weekly column contributed by Aloh Naaleh an organization devoted to motivating Jews to make Aliya.
Aloh Na'aleh POB 4337, Jerusalem 91042
Tel: 972-2-566-1181 ext. 320 ~ Fax: 972-2-566-1186
Email: [email protected]