Succot-The Holiday of Joy

One of the names of חג הסוכות is זמן שמחתינו, the season of great joy. As uplifted as we feel right now, it was nothing compared with the joy that was felt when there was a functioning Beit Hamikdash.

The Gemara in מסכת סוכה describes the non-stop festivities that lasted the whole week of Succot. There was singing and dancing all through the night, and people barely slept during the entire holiday.

Compare this to some of the partying that goes on nowadays in places like Burning Man, or in my day, Woodstock. There was an incredible spiritual high that was felt (not drug induced), where people celebrated their great love for Hashem and being able to feel Him so near.

It is sad that so many Jews need to search in places other than Judaism, to try to find meaning in their lives. When Judaism is practiced the way it is supposed to be practiced, it is as good as it gets even today.

The realization that there was a time when this joy was even higher, should both make us long for the Beit Hamikdash, and strive to go higher each day.