The Tur, in siman 417, writes in the name of his brother (Reb Yehuda), that the three yomim tovim correspond to the three Avos: Avraham symbolizes Pesach, Yitzchok Shavuos and Yaakov Succos. He quotes a Pasuk in parshas Vayishlach (33; 17) that says, “And Yaakov journeyed to Succoth and built himself a house, and for his livestock he made shelters. It seems a bit puzzling that the mere fact of Yaakov building shelters for his cattle is significant to the extent that we associate the yom tov of Succos with it. What is the meaning of these Succos that Yaakov built, and why are they so special that they are viewed as the source for Succos?

Secondly, most of us are aware of the fact that the Succos is intended to remind us of the ananei hakovod, the clouds of glory. These wondrous clouds enveloped us and protected us from the usual dangers and inconveniences associated with traveling through a desert. Yet, we are also aware of the other nissim that accompanied us through the midbar such as the be’er and the Maan. Why are we not celebrating and commemorating the other nissim that we benefitted from in the Midbar?

The Mabit offers an amazing insight which may help us appreciate the Tur as well. When the Ribono Shel Olam tells the yidin to journey through the desert, a place where there is no food and no water, he had to provide them with these basic staples. How are they to survive out there without these basic necessities? However, the ananei hakavod were not ‘necessary’ for our basic survival. Nevertheless, Hashem gave it to us anyways due to the extra compassion He had-just as a father pity’s his son. It is for this extra showing of love that we celebrate by sitting in our Succos.

In the aforementioned pasuk, quoted by the Tur in parshas Vayishlach, (33; 17) it says, “And Yaakov journeyed to Succoth and built himself a house, and for his livestock he made shelters; therefore he called the name of the place Succoth”. The Ohr HaChaim Hakadosh raises an obvious question. What is the great significance of Yaakov building shelter for his cattle that they even named a city in its honor? Says the Ohr HaChaim Hakadosh, ‘up until now, we don’t find that anyone built a dwelling for animals.’ Yaakov had an abundance of pity on his animals, and he took action that was unheard of in his time. He demonstrated an exceptional sensitivity to his livestock and treated them with extra care. He taught us that when caring for others, even animals, one must try and go beyond the call of duty with their care. This was something entirely new and extraordinary on Yaakov Avinu’s part; he went above and beyond the accepted standard and built shelters for his cattle.

Now we can see the connection that Yaakov Avinu has with Succos.  Yaakov excelled at providing care beyond the basics. And perhaps, it was in this zechus that we were the beneficiaries of the Ribono Shel Oilam’s extra kindness and chessed by providing us with the ananei hakovod, that we celebrate on Succos.

This could also be why Succos is right after Yom Kippur. We’ve just finished asking Hashem for life and sustenance, yet we have to understand that He gives us much more than the life and sustenance we simply asked for.

Based on this pshat one can infer that the theme of this yom tov can be ‘going that extra mile’, just as Yaakov Avinu practiced with his cattle. With this thought in mind, as we enter the yom tov of Succos, may we all try to go above the call of duty and go the extra mile when we help a friend, family member and in our observance of all mitzvos! May this year bring us continued hatzlacha, in all aspects, and may we merit that in the zechus of all of us going above the ‘norm’, Hashem in return, bring the Moshiach speedily in our days. Amen.

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