In this week’s reading, Re’eh, Moses continues addressing the Israelites just before he passes away; just before the Israelites cross the Jordan River and enter the land of Israel. Moses commands the Israelites to proclaim certain blessings and curses on Mount Grizzim and Mount Ebal after they enter the land of Israel. He directs them to destroy all vestiges of idolatry from the Promised Land. They must then designate a city where the Divine presence will dwell in the Holy Temple, and they are forbidden from offering sacrifices elsewhere. Other topics discussed in this portion are: tithes, false prophets, the wayward city, tattoos, kashrut, the Sabbatical Year, charity, and the festivals.
I would like to read a few verses from near the end of our Parsha:
Deu 16:10 Then you shall keep the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand, which you shall give as the LORD your God blesses you.
Deu 16:11 And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite who is within your towns, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are among you, at the place that the LORD your God will choose, to make his name dwell there.
Deu 16:12 You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt; and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.
Deu 16:13 “You shall keep the Feast of Booths seven days, when you have gathered in the produce from your threshing floor and your winepress.
Deu 16:14 You shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter, your male servant and your female servant, the Levite, the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow who are within your towns.
Deu 16:15 For seven days you shall keep the feast to the LORD your God at the place that the LORD will choose, because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful.
The following is from FFOZ Torah Club Volume V
This is a very good topic to touch on as we approach the fall festival season
According to the Apostle Paul, a believer in Yeshua is encouraged to rejoice in the LORD always (Phil 4:4). Rebbe Nachman of Breslov teaches, “It is a great mitzvah to always be happy.” Despite this constant encouragement that Paul puts upon us to always rejoice, we have a special command to rejoice on the pilgrimage festivals as we read from the portion. This would apply to anyone in any place who chooses to recognize God’s festival days and honor them with joy.
The sages prescribe increasing joy on the festivals by planning ahead of time and spending liberally on those preparations. Haircuts and new clothes before the festival begins increase the joy and festive atmosphere. On the festivals dress up a little bit more that on the weekly shabbat. Prepare like you would for attending any happy event, like a big wedding.
Whatever a person can do to beautify the festivals with special touches and to make them fun and memorable for the whole family is to be encouraged. Make sure that all of the family members are able to make a contribution to the happy and festive spirit.
One of the ways that we rejoice on these festivals is to enjoy special meals. Our tables should be spread with the best foods and delicacies. In addition, the Torah encourages us to share our meals with the poor and that we should invite guests into our homes. Maimonidies writes in the Mishnah Torah:
When a person eats and drinks on the holiday, he must feed the stranger, the orphan, the widow, and the homeless person. A person who locks his doors and eats and drinks with his family but does not provide food and drink to the poor does not experience the joy of the holiday. He only experiences the joy of his stomach.
Yeshua taught us this too. In the Gospel of Luke (written long before Rambam wrote the Mishnah Torah) it is written:
Luk 14:1 One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully.
…
Luk 14:12 He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid.
Luk 14:13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,
Luk 14:14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
Disciples of Yeshua have plenty of reasons to rejoice during the days of Passover, Shavuot, and Succoth. The festivals themselves fuel our joy as they foreshadow the great redemption and the speedy return of our Lord and Master Yeshua. When He comes, our joy will be made full and, as the prophets taught, all nations will ascend to Jerusalem for the annual pilgrimages. This anticipation of the coming Kingdom of God explains why we conclude each of these festivals with the words, “Next Year in Jerusalem.” May it be so, speedily, soon and in our lifetime.
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