Please join us to celebrate at JET's

25th Anniversary Cain

Sukkot Shabbat Chol HaMoed:
Exodus 33:12-34:26; Numbers 29:17-
22: Ezekiel 38:18-39:16.

A

local college student once
told me the reason his
friends weren't enthusias-
tic about Judaism: They
had come to associate their
Jewishness with two events,
Yom Kippur and funerals,
both of which were the only
clearly identifiably Jewish
events they participated in.
Naturally, these two som-
ber events wouldn't inspire
people to be excited about
strengthening their Jewish
identity. This bothered me
greatly.
My understanding of
Judaism, especially as high-
lighted by Chassidic philosophy, is that of
a joyous, fulfilling way of life.
Perhaps the Jewish people should
change our approach. Instead of — or in
addition to — expecting our members
to purchase tickets to High Holiday ser-
vices, we should mandate reserving seats
for Simchat Torah services as well.
Isn't it strange though that Sukkot, the
most festive holiday of the year, is a mere
five days after Yom Kippur, a somber and
very serious holiday?
A colleague of mine, a Chabad rabbi
in New York, shared the following: He
invited a congregant to join him in
experiencing a Chassidic wedding in
Brooklyn.
During the Chuppah (religious cer-
emony), she commented to him that she
had never seen such a serious wedding
in her life (The Chuppah at Chassidic
weddings is a very intense, serious time,
with soulful music called nigunim and
heartfelt prayers from those assembled).
Later, during the reception, amidst the
music and dancing, she told him that she
had never seen such a joyous wedding in
her life!
The truth is that the two opposite
emotions she sensed at that wedding are
dependent on one another. The Chuppah
is intense because of the recognition of
the magnitude of what is happening,
two people — and according to mystical
Judaism, two halves of a soul — becom-
ing a complete single unit.

That realization is very powerful and
leads immediately afterward to a very
deep, profound sense of joy, hence the
very festive music and danc-
ing at the wedding reception.
Real joy, not the shallow
I-had-a-few-drinks-so-I'm-
happy joy, requires a genuine
reason to be felt.
In Shir Hashirim ("Song
of Songs"), King Solomon
compares the relationship
between a Jew and God to
that of a husband and wife.
In many ways, Yom Kippur
and Sukkot can be compared
to the wedding ceremony
(Chuppah) and reception.
Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the
year, the day on which we reunite with
God, is much like the Chuppah and is
therefore considered a very serious, soul-
ful and spiritually powerful (though not
sad) day. Then, upon concluding Yom
Kippur, we are overcome with a deep
sense of joy and happiness due to the
deep, Godly relationship just established.
This joy is experienced and expressed on
Sukkot, similar to the joyous wedding
celebration.
Imagine someone only went to wed-
ding ceremonies, and never made it to
the reception. They would assume that
weddings were serious, somber events.
So, to all those of my Jewish broth-
ers and sisters who went to Yom Kippur
services this year: Dorit settle for the
Chuppah, go ahead and enter the wed-
ding hall (the sukkah). There's music,
dancing, great food and pure Jewish joy!
On this topic, I will be presenting
a six-week course, "How Happiness
Thinks — The Jewish Approach to
Joy" this November. The classes are
accredited for medical and social work
continuing education credits. Contact
Rabbishneur@baischabad.com for more
information.
Happy Sukkot to everyone!

Honoring Community Jewels

Drs. Phoebe f7
Harris Ivainster

Monde tj, Octohmr. 20, 2014

Hors d'oeuvres at six in the evening
dinner at 6:30

"en Oat - Country Club

30500 Thirteen Mile Road in Farmington Hills
(between Middlebelt & Orchard Lake Roads)

For information on the event or ad journal

2443.7138.200

'

A Professional. [qt. ''ti Th = !ter

•Annually performs The Diary of Anne Frank for thousands of students
•Tours to Detroit and other area schools with anti-bullying & tolerance plays
• Presents award-winning live theater
• Is a 501(c)(3) non-profit

❑

Shneur Silberberg is a rabbi at the Sara &

Morris Tugman Bais Chabad Torah Center

in West Bloomfield.

Attend the Gala - Place an Ad in the Journal - Buy a Raffle Ticket
Give a supporting Gift

HELP iLl SOAK WI 1 u

tilt

fURL

www.JetTheatre.org

JN

October 9 • 201

31