The sukkah challenge

Modern thinking considers appreciation of life’s gifts as a method of achieving peace of mind and joy that helps one increase their productivity. The Torah sees appreciation as a goal in and of itself.

At this time in the Jewish calendar, we are nearing the end of the Festival of Sukkos. Sukkos provides us with seven days of living in a simple hut where we realize that true joy is derived not from our fleeting physical possessions, but rather from our own spiritual development.

Our Sages (Avos) teach: Who is strong? One who overcomes their inclinations. When the Sages speak of strength, they do not refer to physical strength. That kind of strength ebbs and disappears with time. After all, the Torah is a book of truth. True strength is the strength of character and spirit, the ability to resist the urge of temptation, desires, and pettiness. The power to rise above and release the potential greatness latent within ourselves.
That is true strength.

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Of the greatest obstacles presented to man, the inclination to ignore the good that we possess, stands at the forefront. In his great work “Duties of the Mind,” written over a millennium ago, Rabbeinu Bachye ibn Pekuda teaches that the pursuit of our desires, the familiarity of life’s gifts, as well as the upsets of life are the impediments that stand in the way of our reflection upon the multitude of good that we are all recipients of.

If this was true in the quieter life that existed 1,000 years ago, how much more is this true in the fast-paced world of today?

In a society of constant “updates,” we are constantly toiling to “keep up.” We are bombarded with the beckoning of our phones and gadgets.

Who has time to think? To reflect: to enjoy the fact that we are alive, healthy and have a plethora of tasty food to eat!
With access to online shopping and fast delivery, the entire world is literally at our fingertips.

Stop. Think. Reflect. Take a break.

Sit in your sukkah under some leafy foliage, surrounded by old, waterlogged plywood. Breathe in the fresh air.

It’s good to be alive.

That is true strength.

The ability to say no.

I will not be subjected to the beckoning of that blinking light on my phone.

I will not be persuaded by advertisements that my life is empty without their latest products.

The sukkah is fine for me.

It’s flimsy, but who cares?

That is true power.

When my day doesn’t go as planned, it’s OK. Just a bump in the road. It’ll make me a better person. It will not rob me of my happiness, for everything else that went well today.

That is true might.

The sukkah gives us a dare. It gives us a challenge: to recognize and appreciate the good that we have.

Appreciation is recognition of the truth.

It is moral and correct.

G-d gave us a beautiful world.

Our job is to be happy customers.

Appreciation is a goal, not a means.

Our increased productivity is a reward.

Chag sameach! PJC

Rabbi Moshe Levy is the dean of the Kollel Jewish Learning Center. This column is a service of the Vaad Harabonim of Greater Pittsburgh.