With Whom Would You Drink Coffee in the Rain?

There are two stories that taught me to respect the Sukkah. A third story helps me appreciate it.

The first story:

Yosef Mordechai was a simple Jew, who helped in the house of the Rebbe Maharash (4th Chabad Rebbe). He once entered the Sukkah, still visibly angry from something that happened in the kitchen. The Rebbe Maharash told him, “… you must show respect for the S’chach. The S’chach does not appreciate anger”!

The second story:

Once, in Rostov, the Rebbe Rashab (5th Chabad Rebbe) contributed to a Sukkos gathering that a local non-Chabad  group was organizing.

When he later heard that they had read poems and rhymes, such as “S’chach, Ich Lach!” (S’chah, I am laughing), the Rebbe Rashab commented, “If they only knew how the S’chach was laughing at them, they would not be laughing at all!”….

The third story:

A Chabad Chosid was making himself a coffee during Chol Hamoed Sukkos. Noticing the weather outside, and knowing that Chabad custom is to always eat or drink anything only in the Sukkah, someone commented, “I feel bad for you. You have to go out to the Sukkah in the rain, just to have a drink”.

He responded, “When else do I get to have a coffee with the  Ushpizin (spiritual guests that join us in the Sukkah)”?...

* * *

There is no joy as that of clarity. As we celebrate Zman Simchoseinu, the Time of our Rejoicing, may we appreciate the Yom Tov and its Mitzvos for the opportunities they give us.

There are those who say that on each Yom Tov we "give up" something (Chometz on Pesach, sleep on Shavuos, comforts of home on Sukkos).

In truth, on each Yom Tov we "get to" do something!

We get to eat Matzo (referred to in Jewish mysticism as "food of faith" and "food of healing") for a week, we get to stay awake all night and learn, and we get spend time with the Ushpizin!

May G-d grant us ideal weather throughout Sukkos, and even if the weather isn't perfect, may we cherish the opportunity to be enveloped by Hashem's embrace.