Raize Guttman 10-18-20 (30 Tishrei 5781)

Rather than jump into our discussion of Chumash today, we are going to talk about how to take this very special time throughout the year ahead. First thing we need to take with us from Shemini Azeret is we start to pray for rain in the Amidah prayer–masheev ha’rua’ch u’moreed hagashem. The literal translation of the prayer is “I should make the wind blow, and bring down the rain." At a deeper level, it means  “return the spirituality, and bring down the physicality.” In other words, maximize the spiritual things and minimize the physical. 

Avraham was blessed b'kol. "in all"; Yitzhak was blessed m'kol; "from all"; and Yaakov was blessed kol, "all". And these patriarchs teach us about the 3 keys to happiness with the middos they possessed. Avraham gave with everything, Yitzhak grew from everything, and Yaakov was grateful for everything. 

GIVING - GROWING - GRATITUDE. 

On Sukkot it says that the greatest Simcha is the joy of the water drawing ceremony. What is so joyous about spilling water is the exact point of everything! Hashem says learn how to enjoy the most basic things of life. If you can find joy in spilling water, you can find the real happiness in life. Thank you Hashem for everything little thing!