When you Choose Shabbat, you choose to learn that every Shabbat is different and special. This week I shook a lulav and etrog and learned all about Sukkot, a Torah-commanded holiday of gratitude and joy that is celebrated for seven days beginning on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei. Sukkot marks the end of the Torah reading cycle, taking us from the creation of the universe through Egypt and the wilderness to stand on the brink of entering the Promised Land. As Sukkot concludes we celebrate Simchat Torah and begin a new cycle of weekly Torah portions.
When Shabbat occurs on Chol Hamoed of either Sukkot or Passover, we read Exodus 33:12–34:26 containing “the Thirteen Attributes of G-d”; G-d is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and faithfulness, extending kindness to the thousandth generation, forgiving inequity, transgression and sin and granting pardon.
Rabbi Michael D Klein of Temple Torat Emet offers his insights on Shabbat Kol Hamoed Sukkot for Shabbat October 11, 2026 aka 19 Tishrei 5786:
“When we read the instructions for building the Tabernacle, the Torah says, “Build me a Temple and I will dwell in them”. The grammar is wrong. It could have said, if you build me a Temple, I will dwell in it, but instead it uses the Hebrew word B’tocham- in them. Why this wording? The commentator Rashi Z”L explains that if you build a Sanctuary, G-d will dwell in our hearts, and homes, and our families. This is where true Judaism occurs! The Sukkah represents the presence of G-d’s Shechina to protect us even when we are in outside in our fields harvesting our crops. In ancient days, our ancestors built a Sukkot and ate their meals and slept in them looking up at the heavens and feeling the closeness of G-d’s presence which is why we also read Kohelet on this day. Kohelet (Ecclesiates), written by King Solomon, taught us, that despite all of his fame, fortune, and worldly possessions, the most important value is our dependence upon Hakadosh Baruch Hu for all of our worldly needs.
The simplicity of living in a Sukkah overrides the beauty of a palace by virtue of its simplicity of design. It teaches us that we are all vulnerable to life’s challenges but ultimately our faith in G-d carries us through the roughest moments in our lives. This is also why, on Shabbat Chol Hamed Sukkot, we read the Torah section from Exodus Chapter 33 which reminds us that even after the sin of the golden calf, Moses was able to invoke G-d’s mercy on our behalf. We are reminded that everything and every one of us belong to G-d but we must share our gifts with those who are less fortunate otherwise our prayers and sacrifices are empty and meaningless. May G-d’s mercy always be upon us and may the meals we eat together with family and friends in the Sukkah remind of our connection to each other and to Hashem. Shabbat Shalom V’Chag Sameach!“
Questions to Ponder:
- What is Ushpizin. How does it connect us to our ancient ancestors?
- How does Kohelet give us insight into the wisdom of King Solomon?
- Why is Sukkot mentioned last of the three Shalosh Regalim?
- Why does the Haftorah of Shabbat Chol Hamoed mention a great battle that will occur before arrival of the Messianic Days?
Rabbi Michael D. Klein attended Yeshiva College of South Florida and served as Torah Reader, Hebrew teacher, Chazzan and spiritual leader of various synagogues throughout South Florida. In January 2015 he became Ritual Director, Bnai/Bnot Mitzvah instructor and 7th grade Hebrew instructor for Temple Torat Emet of Boynton Beach. In October 2019 he was accepted into an accelerated track and received his smicha from Yeshiva Adath Wolkowisk and has been the Rabbinic leadership of Temple Torat Emet since August 2020. In September of 2022 he was appointed Rabbinic and Spiritual Advisor of the Florida Region of FJMC.
Choose Shabbat; choose to celebrate, to light candles, sing songs and learn a little Torah.
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