Just what Makes Sukkot Z'man Simchateinu? Pt. 3

Originally published 10/2/07, 11:24 PM, Eastern Daylight Time.

Introduction

Note: This is along the lines of why the 15th of Av and Yom Kippur are described as the TWO happiest days of the year in Mishan Ta'anit. In an earlier post, I showed the SPECIFIC connection between those 2 dates in contrast to the catastrophic dates of the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av; thereby showing that contextually in Ta'anit, these dates are all inter-related. In other words, the dates of the TWO happiest days are SPECIFICALLY IN CONTEXT of Masechet Ta'anit

Similarly, I am seeking a specific Sukkot-timed event, not a generality that we might be told to observe during Sukkot such as God's Divine Protection. While it may be TRUE that the Sukkah DOES remind us of God's protection it does not point to the 15th of Tishrei as a time of Simcha per se; it is NO anniversary! After all, Z'man means z'man! Thus, my goal is a specific temporal-historical anniversary. Anything LESS than this goal is imho NOT a satisfactory answer but a rationale to justify "regnant culture" as a friend of mine would say!

Reprise, parts 1 and 2
On 10/2/07, Richard Wolpoe rabbirichwolpoe@gmail.com wrote:
Why is Sukkot termed Z'man Simchateinu [time of rejoicing]?

The 3 Regalim [pilgrimages] correspond to at least 2 holiday matrices; i.e. historical and agricultural. [While, there may be many more, let's address these two based upon Torah and Oral Tradition.]

Agricultural [All in the Torah]

1. Passover - Barley -Omer - Barely
2. Shavuot - Wheat - Minchah hadashah shtei Halechem
3. Sukkot - Hag Ha'assif [also Geshem!]

Historical:

1. Passover - Exodus
2. Shavuot - Giving of the Torah [primarily oral but hinted in text]
3. Sukkot - ?????

If you say that the historical event was the Clouds of Glory I would counter that that took place ALL year 'round. What was SPECIAL about Sukkot as a DATE in history?
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The Part 2 Questions, with the answers interwoven.Hints:

1. What is the SADDEST day of the year?9th of Av
   
2. What MADE that day the saddest day of the year?
   The Destruction of the 2 Temples
3. What would its converse be?
   The Construction of the Temple -e.g. by a King Like Shlomoh!
4. What liturgical texts support this hypothesis?
   The haftarot of Day 2 And Shmini Zteret in the Golah
   The "yakim lanu et Sukkat DAvid Hanofelet.." which is found in both Birkat Hamazon and the Zulat [a type o Piyyut] by Kallir
5. How is Hag haSukkot translated in older Bibles?
   Tabernacles - a possible reference to the Temple's predecessor

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Part 3
Thus Sukkot is the Rejoicing of the Mikdash like 9th of Av is the Mourning of the Mikdash. Makes sense to celebrate the positive as much as it is to Mourn the negative.

The only weakness to this model is that is not in Humash but in the Nevi'im. And so possibly Sukkot had not yet earned the title Simchateinu until later on! It is obvious that the Construction of the Bet haMikdash is the culmination of the model of the First Commonwealth as outlined in Devarim.

Completing the above MatrixHistorical:

1. Passover - Exodus
2. Shavuot - Giving of the Torah [primarily oral but hinted in text]
3. Sukkot - Construction of Solomon's Temple [as documented in the Haftarot] This also explains how Shmini Atzeret is ALSO Z'man Simchateinu.

All of the above give cause for celebration indeed.

So, Rabbi Wolpoe, why isn't this the OBVIOUS reason! Why is this reason not better publicized? Well, after the destruction of the Temple, pushing this theme to the fore would offer a mixed message.

Any Evidence of this phenomenon?
Well, some see the "Harachaman who yakim" as problematic on Yom Tov. They therefore do not say it then because it recalls that the Temple is in ruins. And so it is that this reminder, while depressing on Yom tov, is OK during Hulo Shel Mo'ed.

RRW