27 Sep SUKKOT: CELEBRATING THE CLOUDS OF GLORY

The Torah commands
us to reside in Sukkot
during this holiday in
order to remember “that
I had Beneh Yisrael
reside in Sukkot when I took them from
Egypt.”
The Gemara (Sukka 11) cites a debate
among the Tanna’im in explaining
what exactly the Sukka commemorates.
According to one view, the Torah refers
here to the actual huts, the temporary
dwellings in which Beneh Yisrael lived
during their sojourn through the wilderness.
According to the other view, however, the
Sukka commemorates the miraculous
“Ananeh Ha’kabod” – “clouds of glory”
– which encircled Beneh Yisrael in the
desert to protect them from the elements.
This second explanation is followed by
both Targum Onkelos and Rashi in their
interpretations of this verse, and is accepted
also by the Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim
625). The Shulhan Aruch mentions this
understanding because, as later writers
explain, when we sit in the Sukka we must
have in mind that we do so to commemorate
the clouds of glory.
Among the questions that have been asked

concerning this commemoration is, why
is only this miracle commemorated by
a special Yom Tob? Other miracles also
occurred for Beneh Yisrael in the desert.
What is special about this miracle that we
observe a special seven-day holiday to
celebrate it?
The Gaon of Vilna (Rav Eliyahu of Vilna,
1720-1797) advanced a famous theory
to explain the significance of the Misva
of Sukka. He writes that when Beneh
Yisrael worshipped the golden calf, part
of their punishment was the removal of
the miraculous clouds. Our Sages tell us
that it was on Yom Kippur, nearly three
months after the golden calf, that Hashem
announced to Moshe His forgiveness for
this grievous sin. And the next day, Moshe
assembled the people and conveyed to
them Hashem’s command to construct
the Mishkan. The Gaon explained that the
people donated materials for the Mishkan
over the course of the next several days,
and the construction began on the 15th of
Tishrei – the first day of Sukkot. On that
day, the Gaon writes, the clouds of glory
returned. And this is what we celebrate
on Sukkot – the return of the “Ananeh
Ha’kabod” after they had been taken away
in response to the sin of the golden calf.

The Gaon answered on this basis the famous
question of why Sukkot is celebrated in
the middle of the Tishri. If this holiday
celebrates the miraculous clouds of glory,
then it should be celebrated in the spring,
shortly after Pesach, when Beneh Yisrael
first entered the wilderness and required
this supernatural protection. The Gaon
explained that Sukkot celebrates the return
of the clouds after the sin of the golden calf,
which occurred on the 15th of Tishri, and so
it is celebrated then.
This theory also answers other questions.
For example, it explains why women are
exempt from the Misva of Sukka. Normally,
although women are exempt from Misvot
that apply only at certain times, they are
obligated in Misvot which commemorate a
miracle in which they were included. Quite
obviously, the women of Beneh Yisrael
benefitted from the clouds of glory no less
than the men. And yet, they are exempt
from this obligation. According to the Gaon
of Vilna’s approach, the reason becomes
clear. The women did not participate in the
sin of the golden calf. They remained loyal
to Hashem and refused to donate any gold
for this sinful endeavor. Therefore, they are
not included in the Misva of Sukka, which
commemorates the final rectification of the

sin of the golden calf.
On Yom Kippur, Hashem announced His
forgiveness, which meant that He would
not punish Beneh Yisrael. On Sukkot,
however, we celebrate the fact that Hashem
not only forgave us, but fully restored
His relationship with us. We did not only
escape punishment, but were worthy of
His special love, signified by the clouds of
glory. This is what makes Sukkot such an
especially joyous occasion. It celebrates
the fact that although we are imperfect, and
sometimes make mistakes, nevertheless, if
we sincerely repent and strive to improve,
Hashem continues to shower us with His
love and His special blessing. Through the
process of Teshuba, we are able to earn not
only forgiveness – but Hashem’s continued
love and affection.