Living in a Shack...

For one of my classes I was asked to do a little research on the Feast of Sukkot. It really got me thinking about the way I view the things in this world...Just thought it would be cool to open up a discussion on the topic. The article is online but I can't remember where. Below is my citation and part of what I wrote.

Rubenstein, Jeffrey L. The Symbolism of the Sukka (part 2). Judaism. New York: Fall 1996. Vol. 45, Iss. 4; p. 387, 12 pp.

In dealing with the Feast of Tabernacles and the symbolism therein relating to Christ, one must first consider what God intended to teach His people, the Israelites, as well as ourselves, as Christians through this celebration. To do this, we must look at the most important symbol of the Feast of Sukkot-that being the sukka, or booth.

Rubenstein states that the sukka represents two primary things, the first being the shade of the cloud that lead the Israelites through the wilderness. He says that, "in Jewish tradition shade primarily represents the protection of God." He also mentions that for rabbis a sukka built for the Feast was not satisfactory unless there was more shade than sun underneath this shelter, it also could not have a leafy tree or another structure producing shade above it. Otherwise the dweller was not beneath and does not "experience the 'shade of God' and the same sense of divine protection, love and nurture which the Israelites felt while sojourning within the clouds of glory."

The second part of the symbolism of the sukka that Rubenstein presents is it being "a symbol of transience, temporariness, and insecurity of this world." He points out that this does seem to conflict with the first point but that being a religious symbol, there should be leeway for complexity. This idea also points back to the idea of life being a "fleeting shadow." Rubenstein states that, "God commanded those who aim to be sojourners in this world...to leave their permanent dwellings for temporary dwellings, so that each one recognize how little his stature, for he is only a sojourner and alien in this world...This way he will not trust in the shade of his house, but will dwell in the shade of Shadai..."

Relating the Feast of Tabernacles and its primary symbol of the sukka to Christ brings these things to mind: first, the shade of the sukka and its representation of protection might remind one of Christ's place as high priest and advocate for those who believe in Him. Without His sacrifice and mercy we would have no place to even consider pleading before the Father on the day of judgment. Lastly, the idea of the temporary and transient nature of the sukka shows how our attitudes toward this world should always weigh heavily in considering the fact that this place we dwell and the things that we acquire in it are all only a reflection. Instead of pursuing these things, we should constantly live in such a way that we are ready and expectant of our Master's return to build for us a permanent home with Him in His kingdom.