The Beit Hamikdash Experience

The end of פרשת ראה has a brief summary of the holidays in the Jewish calendar. There is a commandment to be עולי רגל, to make the pilgrimage to the Temple on Pesach, Shavuot, and Succot.

It is interesting to note that aside from Succot where we are told to rejoice, and another name for Succot is זמן שמחתנו, the time of our happiness, the same is true of Shavuot.

The Pasuk says, ושמחת לפני ה׳אלוקיך, that you shall rejoice before Hashem your G-d, in connection with Shavuot.

This is an indication of the remarkable experience it was to be in the בית המקדש for the festivals. The commandment to be עולי רגל was designed to create a renewed spiritual imperative. Each individual recognized this spiritual elevation that he felt. Only in the בית המקדש, were the holidays celebrated in their full splendor. King David said in Psalm 122, “ I rejoice when they say to me, ‘Let us go unto the house of Hashem.’”

The greatest joy was felt by those in exile, when they returned to the house of Hashem. This is but another example of the great loss we feel by not having our Temple. But what is true for me is that even today, there is no comparison to experiencing the holidays in Israel, as compared to outside of it. There is a much greater spiritual elevation felt here, than any that I felt while living in America. The ושמחת בחגך is much stronger in ארץ ישראל.