On Sukkot, we are commanded to be happy!!

You shall rejoice in your festival, וְשָׂמַחְתָּ֖ בְּחַגֶּ֑ךָ, with your son and daughter, your male and female slave, the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow in your communities.

You shall hold a festival for the Eternal your God seven days, in the place that GOD will choose; for the Eternal your God will bless all your crops and all your undertakings, and you shall have nothing but joy– וְהָיִ֖יתָ אַ֥ךְ שָׂמֵֽחַ (Deuteronomy 16:14–15).

Sukkot is called zman simchateinu, “the time of our joy,” because the Torah itself emphasizes that this chag is to be filled with simcha (see also Leviticus 23:40).

There are many explanations for why Sukkot is particularly associated with happiness. One is that it follows immediately after the solemn days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Having gone through the process of repentance and atonement, a Jew may enter Sukkot feeling purified and experiencing an unusual sense of closeness to God. Perhaps this spiritual renewal amplifies the joy and contentment associated with the holiday.

In fact, Sukkot is unique among the biblical festivals in the emphasis it places on joy. But this raises a question for me: What exactly is there about Sukkot that is supposed to make us happy?

What Is So Happy About Sukkot?

In Israel, Sukkot means sitting outside. In the evening, the weather can be very pleasant—except for the mosquitoes. At lunchtime, however, it can be 38 degrees Celsius in the shade, at which point the mosquitoes are replaced by flies. And at my age, there is not necessarily anything joyful about sitting on plastic chairs.

Last year I did not build a sukkah, but I was still living in my home in Omer and had friends who invited me to their sukkot for meals. This year will be completely different. I will be celebrating Sukkot in my new synagogue—I just paid my membership dues—which is only........

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