In commemoration of the holiness of the holiday

Once upon a time, there was a world where everyone lived peacefully together.

And it continued that way for a very short while. But ultimately, arguments, debates, and even violence marred the peace.

So things changed after that. And ever since, people have longed for that peaceful time again. And it will come.

So when was that peaceful time? Many years ago. In fact, right after the world was created. Adam was there alone. (Eve had not yet been created.) So, being the only human being existing, there was no one else to fight with.

But G-d wanted a world where many people would coexist. So Eve was created, then their two sons (one killed the other), and the world was off to the seemingly impossible quest of peaceful coexistence.

Sometimes (like before the flood) people acted viciously against one another. Sometimes (like during construction of the Tower of Babel) they acted harmoniously with each other, but their unity was directed against G-d.

True harmony means that people get along with each other and with G-d. And one day soon, Redemption will come, and all the people of the world will become clearly aware of G-d, and there will be harmony and peace.

There are three festivals, Passover, Shevuot and Sukot, which enable us to strengthen our connection with our fellow and with G-d.

On Passover, Jews were miraculously freed from bondage in Egypt. The Hebrew word for Egypt, ‘Mitzrayim,’ also means ‘limitations.’ Recently the Jewish people transcended limitations, overcoming argument and division by becoming in tune to their inner G-dly souls, which are intrinsically united.

The next festival, Shevuot, celebrates the day when G-d’s presence was revealed to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai. G-d gave us the Torah — a guide to how to live our lives, and He told Moses to tell all nations the seven Noahide laws. This would bring peace to the world. Recently many Jews (especially soldiers) have strengthened their bond to G-d’s Torah and His precepts.

The third festival, Sukot, commemorates when G-d protected the Jews in the desert, on their journey from Egypt to the land of Israel. Nowadays we have seen G-d’s miraculous protection, as 350 projectiles from Iran were neutralized.

The holiday of Sukot has an added day of celebration, ‘Shmini Atzeret,’ a time when G-d asks the Jewish people to stay for one more day to celebrate with Him. Sukot and Shmini Atzeret are referred to as ‘the time of our happiness.’ Very soon we will see the ultimate Redemption with Moshiach, when there will be true happiness and peace.

May we see it very soon.