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Maurice Mizrahi
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Exclusivley Exclusively Rejoicing on Sukkot

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Exclusivley Rejoicing on Sukkot

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Maurice Mizrahi
  • 23.7k
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  • 20
  • 71

Rejoicing on Sukkot

Sukkot is z'man simchatenu -- the season of our rejoicing. But the megilla associated with it is Kohelet (Ecclesiastes), which is a downer and somewhat depressing. Why? Sources say it is to provide a counterweight to unbridled rejoicing. Perhaps so, but the problem is that the Torah says: Vesamachta bechagecha, vehaita ach sameach -- You will rejoice in your holiday, you will ONLY rejoice. [Deuteronomy 16:14-15] The word "only" seems to exclude "counterweights". So what is the resolution? (Note: Most Sephardim don't read Kohelet on Sukkot.)