Finally, the holiday we’ve all been waiting for! Though Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur play a vital role for upliftment during this month of holidays, Sukkot is the festival of joy, the holiday that focuses on the mitzvah of joy. That’s right; be happy. Being happy is always a good thing, and on Sukkot there is an actual commandment in the Torah to be happy.
Real happiness is not something that can be forced or caused by external influences. Genuine joy is a result of internal contentedness and peace. After experiencing the serenity and somberness of the High Holidays, that’s when we reach a spiritual level that is chiefly focused on joy.
This Sukkot, in addition to eating in a sukkah and shaking the lulav and etrog, don’t forget to simply be happy. Extra happy. It's a Mitzvah!
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom & Chag Sameach,
Rabbi Shmuel Posner