Gemara:

Sukkah 

Machshava:

Beit HaMikdash,  Chassidut,  Elul,  Exploring Judaism,  General,  Maharal,  Olam Habah,  Rav Kook,  Spirituality,  Torah She-Ba'al Peh 

Holidays:

Tishrei 

Personalities:

Rav Kook 

Description

Many peculiarities obscuring the true nature of the Yom Tov of Sukkos are resolved with one simple paradigm shift: What is so joyous about sukkos in general and the simchas beis ha'shoaeva in particular? Why did chazal nickname the simchas beis ha'shoaeva "Ha'chalil/the flute"? Why was the Tzeduki who poured the libation water on his feet pelted to death with Esrogim? Why do we use our leftover "garbage" from the harvest to make schach for our sukkos? Why does the Yerushalmi suggest that we make a beracha over building a sukkah? Why is the Esrog referred to as the fruit of the "Etz Hadar"?