Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 17 Tishri, 5785
Sukkot Day 3

Shabbat Shalom!  Today is a “bonus” Sabbath as we start the Chol Hamoed – the “in between” days of Sukkot – the four days between the first two and the last two (Shmeni Atzeret and Simchat Torah).  We get a bonus rest day for sure.

I wrote this last year:

How are we feeling?  If we are struggling? That is a good indication over the next four days to catch our breath to receive the harvest beyond us.  Just allow the universe to unfold instead of trying to control it. Just be. There is nothing “to do.”

This has been an interesting lesson in the midst of COVID since day 1 of Sukkot.  I am still just resting, and catching my breath for the harvest coming beyond us. It’s been tough to not want to control the situation around me and just let things play out.  I can tell you – though it has been a challenge, it’s been beautiful as well!

So where are we at? What do we need?  Let’s talk!

What are your thoughts?

From the last two years:

Sukkot Day 3 (Chol Chamoed)

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 17 Tishri, 5784

Today is the third day of Sukkot – the first of the Chol Hamoed days.

What is Chol Hamoed?  They are the “in between” days of the Holiday.  The first two days, and last two days of Sukkot (followed immediately the next day of Simchat Torah) is a really joyous time right now!  For the next four days, we get a “lull” between the Holiest Days!

What does this mean for us?  After the weekend, we began to reap the harvest of the spiritual work we’ve been doing this past year.  We are just beginning to take what we’ve learned from Yom Kippur and apply it to the world around us.

How are we feeling?  If we are struggling? That is a good indication over the next four days to catch our breath to receive the harvest beyond us.  Just allow the universe to unfold instead of trying to control it. Just be. There is nothing “to do.”

If you had an amazing weekend, just enjoy the ride this week!

If we struggled this weekend? Let’s catch our breath, be empathetic and kind to ourselves, and reflect on the lesson we are needing to receive from Hashem.

You see, this weekend was ALSO the Aries full moon.  If you are a fan of astrology, you know Aries is the ram. As an Aries, those of you who know me know I am very direct.  This weekend was all about a cycle that is being direct with us.  What are we seeing in our lives? What lessons are we needing to learn? There is NO subtlety this weekend. We cannot ignore the lesson.

That’s the intent for the week ahead. How can we apply the lessons this weekend and move forward towards the full end of this Torah cycle. We will reach the final day of Sukkot, and because Hashem loves us, and desires just one more moment with us, He gives us Shmeni Atzeret.  We get one bonus day of holiness before we finish the cycle with Simchat Torah – which is the day we conclude the Torah cycle, and then roll back the scrolls and start over – once again.  Because each moment we have, we can “begin again.” That is the beauty of this journey!

What are your thoughts?

This is my original commentary from two years ago:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 24 Tamuz, 5782

Shabbat Shalom!  It has been a really restful morning! Time to dig into the Torah as we close this week’s portion!

We have been working through the sacrifices this week, starting with daily, monthly, and the holidays.

Today, we close with my favorite holy day. Sukkot. Sukkot is the time in the fall where the community starts heading inside. The summer is over, and it’s starting to get colder. But for Jews, we are called to build a temporary structure – called a sukkah – as a commemoration of the tabernacle and Jews wandering in the desert. It is a reminder that our lives on earth are temporary. That our true identity is a soul, with a temporary body wrapped around us. Society tries to convince us the other way around- that we are bodies with a soul inside.

In the journey from slavery to freedom, we are not truly free until we can turn society’s message “inside out.” And look at ourselves the way Hashem sees us. Sukkot is a reminder of this!

Sukkot is 7 days, actually 8; but the last day is a unique holy day. It’s a seven day party.

It is also the end of the Torah cycle. At the closing of Sukkot, we celebrate an extra holiday of Shmeni Atzeret. But when THAT is over, we celebrate Simchat Torah. That’s the day we go back to the beginning and start over in Genesis.

So in a sense it’s THREE holy days all together. Simchat Torah is when these Torah thoughts started, and our journey together here on facebook began. It’s also a reminder that we will never be done with this journey on earth. Each year we cycle through the -process of moving away from slavery to freedom.

And that is our Torah thoughts for today. What are yours?