Sukkot: The Season of Our Rejoicing

0:00 I'd like to invite Rabbi Marty to come to the stage and give us our message for the for the Shabbat. Avinasha, Mayim Our Father in Heaven Lord. I Thank you for Rabbi Marty and his diligent life seeking after you Lord I Thank you for the ears that he hears your voice Speak to him and to us through him. Where I just pray that you would speak to us that you would open up our ears today to hear what you would have us here from you. We bless you in yeshua's name. amen

0:53 Good morning. Shabbat shalom. boy all the holidays You know this this staff that works here at Brook Hashem. Loves working here. Because it's such a great environment and they get all the Jewish holidays off. They got all the American holidays off. And all the other holidays that come come by. So if you ever call Bro Hashem and you find that somebody's not here, you know, why? I wanted to talk about sukote this morning since we're

1:41 about to enter into coat. As Ari mentioned it's a season of rejoicing. But I want to remind all of us. to get to this season of rejoicing we had to go through and history had to go through lots of seasons of difficulties. And that's really like life. Life is not just a big bowl of joy. even when we believe in Yeshua Sometimes he provides. A miracle so that we don't have to experience hardship.

2:30 but When we do experience hardship. We become and suffering. We become I listen to this. We become closer to yeshua's suffering. We come closer to yeshua's suffering. You know, then Hebrews chapter 12, Messianic Jews chapter 12. It says that Yeshua. suffered the shame that was put upon him. Not the shame because people were booing him. And saying crucify him. I doubt that they were saying execute him on the stake.

3:15 Even though that's David Stern's translation. I like that translation, but but do you know why he did it? I know your answer is going to be oh because he wanted to save me. Yeah. He did that. But right there in the context of Messianic Jews of Hebrews chapter 12 is as he did it. for the joy that was set before him. He suffered. All that he suffered because he had his eyes fixed on the joy that was set before him. Sometimes life gets pretty tough.

4:03 And we end up going through some suffering. in fact David Stern Was a very very long time. family friend And we just recently a week ago had another friend pass away. And it seems like I don't know maybe it's at our age but it seems like in these last few months we've had. People that we are we know that we're that we've been close to pass away. and it seems that the suffering that goes on is very present. but if we keep our eyes focused on the suffering

4:52 it will probably kill us. We have to keep our eyes focused on the joy that God set before us. That we will forever we will forever. Be in his presence. in Yeshua, Messiah Most people don't want to die. In fact I was I saw one of my neighbors and I stopped. Because just to tell him that this this man one of our neighbors had passed away. And he said, oh he says I I just heard.

5:38 and you know we started talking and he has this he has an effervescent kind of personality. He's smiling all the time and you know, and he's talking about we're you know, we're talking about death. And and he says well I said well. We all may at some point face that trial or face that. that point and he says yeah, it's really too bad, isn't it? It is too bad death is called the last Our Last Enemy. It's sort of weird. It's a it's a double-edged sword. It's a double-sided coin.

6:24 It can be considered a gift from God to end the suffering. And it's also The Last Enemy that we overcome. I've been very encouraged Lately by reading some authors. Who? Keep reminding me that. It's a passageway. It's a passageway. It's not the end. seasons of our season of our rejoicing that's what Sukkot is. It's it's called. In fact in Hebrew. It's called 'sman Sim container.

7:10 season of our rejoicing You know, I considered teaching today from the parashat harshavua. But Sean really touched a lot of on it last week. on the song of Moses and one of the things that to me is glaring about the song of Moses. Is that Moses says to the people of Israel? You are such a you are such a choice people in God's eyes. But I know. That when I'm gone. You're going to rebel against him.

7:56 How do I know that because you've already rebelled against him and I'm here? So Israel because of our rebellious nature against the Lord had to suffer. And yet God promised us a season of joy. So tomorrow night simcatara. All right. What I'm not simple, I'm sorry Sukkot. And I want to share. A story with you, which I've shared before, but it's been a while. So maybe

8:43 you'll enjoy it. again It's called Suka on Park Avenue, you know, and if you go to Manhattan Park Avenue is the Swank. place to be in fact Park Avenue synagogue Is probably one of the most well-known synagogues in the United States? Maybe in the world. I don't know Park Avenue synagogue. They they have they have an amazing Canter. I mean if you ever you should go just to the website and just listen to him sing sometime. He has an amazing voice. Nathan Shulman moved into a Swanky apartment on Park Avenue asukota approached

9:28 he built his Suka on the balcony of his apartment. His Uptown neighbors were incensed at the desecration of their high-class and Posh neighborhood. So they filed an injunction and took Nathan to court. They all stood before judge Goldberg. who was known to be wise and just after hearing both sides of the story The Judge scolded Nathan Schulman for building his sukkah in such a nice neighborhood without acquiring the proper permit. Now if I was a talmotic scholar, I would say does that mean you don't

10:16 need the permit in that such a nice neighborhood? Probably not. Judge Goldberg ordered him to remove his sukkah. No later than eight days, hence. everyone was satisfied the Torah commands the people of God. To build a sukkah Israel to build a sukkah. To remind us of our wanderings in the wilderness when we lived in Sukkot we lived in tents. And not only to remind us that we lived in tents, but while we lived

11:03 in tents in the wilderness God was in our midst. So let me ask you would you rather live in a big beautiful mansion that was solid made out of bricks? Without God being in your midst. Would you rather live in a tent? And have God in your midst. You don't answer that. It's okay. You can contemplate it for a while. What a incredible what an incredible journey. for 40 years seemed like suffering. But what an incredible journey to have the pillar of Fire by night and the pillar of cloud by day God in our midst.

11:51 Well Sue coat. Is not only a celebration of the past to remind us of this wonderful time. God's faithfulness When our shoes didn't wear out our clothes didn't wear out, you know. My dad was a tailor. His brother was a tailor their father. My grandfather was a tailor, you know that there were no tailors in Israel while they were wandering through the wilderness. They would have gone broke. That's why Fiddler on the Roof says even a poor tailor deserves some happiness. but our season of joy

12:38 is not only because we look back and we see God in our midst. But we look forward to the time when God will be in our midst physically again, not just in our hearts. but in our midst physically again That's one of the reasons it's the season of rejoicing. Because we look forward to that time. Now here is here is a sukkah in the middle of Manhattan. I just thought I'd show to you. This is built by the Chabad. the labovich who you know many of them also believe in a messiah, but it's not Yeshua.

13:25 This manakum shenirsen who also died and they believed he was going to be raised in three days. I don't know why they were copying us. I don't think this is Park Avenue, but pretty nice neighborhood Midtown Manhattan But this is the season of our rejoicing. And the Torah commands us to rejoice. Why do we need to be commanded to Rejoice? Why don't we just rejoice? Do you know that human beings probably have a propensity more for non-rejoicing then rejoicing?

14:11 We have a propensity to complain rather than be thankful. So the Torah God has to command us to rejoice. Listen to this you shall celebrate who coat. And rejoice at your Festival. Deuteronomy 16 13 and 14. Of course, that's a summary of those verses Let me tell you one thing that will release you from rejoicing I'm release you into rejoicing.

14:57 That is stop looking at your neighbor and comparing yourself with your neighbor. You may compare yourself sometimes and begin to rejoice. And then you may compare yourself other times and get depressed. That makes your life like a roller coaster. Keep your eyes focused. On the hope that is set before us in our Messiah. It will help us all to rejoice. In verse 15 the next verse Adonai your God will bless you in all your work and everything you do. And you shall all together be full of joy.

15:43 I love what Nehemiah wrote in the eighth chapter. he said Don't cry. Rejoice because the joy of the Lord is your strength I have to remind myself of that all the time. The joy of the Lord is my strength. At something to remind ourselves of every day. The joy of the Lord is my story. Oh, I got a really tough day at work today. The joy of the Lord is my strength. You want to be strong and mighty? The joy of the Lord is your strength.

16:29 Okay, rejoice and Adonai always again. I will say rejoice this time. It's not Moshe Moses. This time it's ravshoul and Philippians chapter 4 verse 4. You know, okay. Well Rob shall oh, you know, he was a big time evangelist lived in a mansion, you know in Malibu Beach. No, he wrote that phrase right there. Rejoice in Adonai always and again, I say rejoice he wrote that as a prisoner in prison. imprisoned for his faith in Yeshua

17:17 while he was suffering in the midst of suffering, he's telling the Philippians and anybody who's going to read this letter rejoice in the lord always. Again, I say rejoice. You know what? I feel like the Lord wants us to stand up for just one second stand up. Stand up raise your hands to the Lord and say I rejoice in you Lord. Hallelujah You Hallelujah?

18:06 Hallelujah Oh. Thank you Lord. Wow, what a release, huh? You just have to let the joy out. Okay, you can you can depress your bodies again. What a release isn't that you know, and I think Joy with people is a lot better than Joy by ourselves. So in this

18:52 You know Russell wrote to the Philippians. They were not Jewish. But he's writing a he's writing a theme a suit coat theme the season of our joy and rejoice always. Because Rob shahul was called. As a Jewish Apostle, he was called to the Gentiles. And he's any he knew that the Gentiles were included. The Lord revealed this mystery to him that they the Gentiles the people of the nations are included. into the treasure into into the Commonwealth of Israel to enjoy the treasure that God has in store for all of us in the Messiah Yeshua.

19:39 So this is a heart. I want to share just a moment a heart for the goyim. Because Sukkot, you know was given to Israel and some of you who are not Jewish. You may feel like well, where do I fit in here it is. in Numbers chapter 29 and I think you know during the holidays Ari or Rabbi Sean or Rabbi Ari that maybe both mentioned it. I don't know. Numbers 29 calls for 70 Bulls to be offered up to Hashem during Sukkot on behalf of the goyim on behalf of the nation's. William is a Hebrew word that needs a Nations. By the way, this is a little side note. It's not in my notes.

20:25 But maybe it'll be an encouragement to you. Goiem is the word Hebrew word for a Nations. and in Exodus chapter 19 God actually calls Israel goy. Just means Nation. but cause joy and you know the difference between the Nations and the Israel is one word. It's the next Hebrew word after in Exodus 19. He says you are goy. kadosh you are a holy nation. God separated Israel as a nation from all

21:13 the other nations to be a holy nation. And do you know that it's the only nation that God separated? The only nation that God separated to be holy. And so when Gentiles come to Faith in Yeshua, that's why God brings them to the holy nation because he had put all his covenants and treasures and Promises in the holy nation. And and then Yeshua brings us all together and makes us all holy together. Anyways a little side note. So Hashem always has had a heart. His heart set on saving the Nations.

22:04 As well as saving Israel. and I think people maybe a lot of people don't recognize that fact. And I'm going to I'm slowing down here for a moment because I want to bring up a couple of issues. one is that there's still remains an enmity between the nation of Israel and the other nations in the world There are some nations in the world that are pro-israel but most Nations. don't seem to be in fact when the nation is to come to come together in the UN. You know, they vote on issues like, you know.

22:52 human rights and those sorts of things and you know that Israel has more condemnations in the U and the United Nations has more condemnation on Israel. Than any other Nation or actually all the other nations put together. so not not too many nations love Israel a few do but God has always had his heart set on not only saving Israel, but also saving the Nations. I wish the Nations could figure that out. the other side of that coin the other issue that

23:37 happens particularly in Messianic Jewish communities is that people of the Nations who come? Who are not Jewish? May feel like wow, I want to be Jewish because I want to be part of God's plan. For Israel, so I want to be Jewish but God already had a plan for all of you before. His desire is to save all the nations. 70 Bulls were sacrificed at this holiday that were coming up on. for the Nations that was in the Torah. Even the rabbis of old understood this truth.

24:24 And I'm going to I'm going to read a couple of talmudic passages to you. sukka 55b rabbi, elazar second century these 70 Bulls. He's explaining he's explaining the the Torah portion that talks about the 70 Bulls Rabbi Eliezer said these 70 bulls that are sacrificed. As additional offerings over the course of the seven

25:11 days of Sukkot. To what do they correspond? They correspond to the 70 nations of the world. And are brought to atone for their sins and to hasten. World Peace Why is a single bull sacrificed on the eighth day of assembly? It corresponds to the singular Nation. Israel so this was written. At least 1800 years ago. Now here's another one. rabbi, yokana Said whoa unto the nations

25:58 of the world that lost something and do not even know what they lost. When the temple is standing the 70 Bulls sacrificed on the altar during the Feast of Sukkot atones for them. And now that the temple is destroyed who atones for in other words if all the nations who hated Israel now. Would love Israel and support Israel. There might be a temple and there might be 70 Bulls sacrifice to atone for those Nations.

26:46 They don't even know what they lost. the very Nation That sacked Jerusalem and destroyed the temple Rome. Lost its atonement. at least that's how Rabbi yokana sees it. These are sages. These are sages that contributed. to the writing of the Torah So who atones for them that he so he he leave the passage leaves the passage in the tongue would leaves it with a question. So who

27:32 atones for them? He's I think he's saying it like you need to wake up and see what you're missing. Who atones for them I'm seeing it like well what tones for them now? Who is it? Is it Yeshua? Yes. And who was it that brought it up Ari maybe or Rabbi Sean? once and for all It's not an annual sacrifice anymore. Not at Sukkot every year. it's once one sacrifice in Yeshua For all now that has a couple of meanings.

28:17 for all people for all time once and for all And you can read. Messianic choose the book of Hebrews chapter 7 and chapter 10 to verify what I'm just saying to you. so with all that How do we cultivate Joy? Well, so we have all this depressing stuff in the midst of it. Cultivate Joy. That's what he's saying cultivate Joy. You know at both of my parents were Holocaust survivors from

29:04 Poland. And I grew up. With their accent their polish European accents as they as they spoke English. They had a pretty heavy accents. and you know, sometimes you can you can't. You can't understand what some people say when they come from a different country because their accents are pretty heavy. But I could understand I thought it was normal that I thought everybody had this accent, you know until like old enough. and so here's a guy who came from the old country. A Survivor, and he was applying for his citizenship.

29:49 here in America and he goes before the judge. And so he gets tested. He's getting tested to see if he qualifies for citizenship and he answers everything correctly and He wants to make sure the guy knows English well enough, so he he says I want you to use. the word cultivate in a sentence cultivate, you know, like cultivate Joy. I want you to use the word cultivate in a sentence. And so the the Jewish man from Europe said, okay, just thinking. well I was a little late coming today because

30:35 it was I was waiting for the bus, but it was too cultivate. Okay, that was probably more effective 40 50 years ago. Nehemiah tells us how to cultivate Joy at least he starts. chapter 8 verse 17 the entire community of those who returned from the Exile from the Babylonian exile

31:23 made Sukkot made tense made booths and lived in them. For the people of Israel had not done this since the days. We would normally say yehoshua Joshua the son of noon but in Hebrew get this in Hebrew, it doesn't say yahoshua Joshua. It says Yeshua. That's what the Hebrew says. We hadn't done this and that since the days of Yeshua Ben noon or being noon. 950 years since Israel had celebrated who coat like they're supposed to. 950 year Gap

32:10 that's almost a thousand years that they hadn't. Celebrated Sukkot like they were supposed to. And so they did. I love Nehemiah. I love this chapter in chapter 8. I'm just going to take a minute to to turn there because I'm gonna read you something you may not have noticed in the past. Nehemiah If you're returning if you have a Bible and you wonder where Nehemiah is comes after Ezra.

32:57 Okay. Now listen, he's he's he says Nehemiah was ordering them to build Sukkot to build these tents. And he says go out to the Hills. And bring Olive branches and Wild Olive branches. Myrtle branches palm branches and branches of other leafy trees to make your Sukkot as it is written. This is the only place you'll find it. But isn't it interesting that he says go out and bring olive tree branches and a wild olive tree branches. I thought wow what a hint that we have in terms of Sue coat including the

33:42 goyim the Gentiles. You know Sue coat is the holiday. That I just read to you that includes the Gentiles in terms of offerings. But it is the holiday that includes the Gentiles Zechariah Chapter 14. That insists on Gentile Nations coming up to Jerusalem to celebrate Sukkot and a worship the King of Kings. So it is the it is the Jewish holiday. That is universal. That everybody is supposed to celebrate. And there was great rejoicing when they

34:28 did it. We had a little taste of it ten minutes ago when we stood up and we all rejoiced and said I Rejoice before you Lord. We had little taste of what they did by building a sukkah after 950 years. SIM card, godola The Great Joy the great rejoicing very May owed means very the very great rejoicing. So how How do we how do we how do we do this? How do we cultivate

35:15 this? Very great rejoicing. All right. Okay, here's an acrostic here. So I'm giving you how right hone in on Yeshua focus on Yeshua. So you won't lose heart. I mentioned it already to you. Focus it in on Yeshua so that you won't lose heart. Read Messianic Jews chapter 12 verses 1 through 3. It'll be encouraging to you. Own your sin.

36:02 and repent turn to the Lord turn or turn back to Adonai. and to one another to find forgiveness So if we sin against someone that we know here. And we just go Lord, forgive me for I you know, I ripped off my ex best friend. That's not enough. Sorry. Going to the Lord is not enough in this case. I believe the Lord will say to you if you go Lord, forgive me for ripping off my ex best friend. I

36:48 believe the Lord's response will be go to your ex best friend. Find that forgiveness repent and I will also forgive you. Some of us get too spiritually minded to Heavenly minded that we become no earthly good. You've heard that before I probably shouldn't have even said it. But it's true. how the word of God the word of God and our love for one another will cultivate joy in US. Don't give up on the word of God.

37:37 I have some Messianic Jewish friends. Who started? Moving towards a liberal interpretation of the of the scriptures. Liberal understanding of the scriptures. I'm not talking politically don't think politics. I'm talking in terms of fundamental or conservative view of the scriptures means that it's God inspired. It's really the word of God and that we can take that word and Bank on it. and so my I have one guy in particular. And I saw him this Summer one guy in particular said, oh I was so relieved when I

38:23 finally discovered. That the word of God is not inspired like, you know, like the way we've been talking about it. It's such a relief to me. I said relief. my God If I did that you if I if you talked me into that you'd be robbing me of my joy. My joy, I I get I become joyful when I read when I read the word of God. You know, why because I know how the story ends. and one of the demonstrations of the Manifest Manifest presence of Yeshua

39:09 in our lives is that we love one another. Isn't that Yeshua said They will know. Not we will know. they will know that God has sent Yeshua. by our love for one another Our faith is not inactive. Our faith is active. That's why yaakov James the brother of Yeshua says Don't you you show me somebody who says I have faith. I'll show you somebody who actually does it demonstrates his faith. We have to demonstrate our faith.

39:56 To really believe if you really believe something. Then you act on it. Okay, we're almost done. John 15 verses 10 and 11 You've heard this many times what Ari taught me this lesson Rabbi Ari, but not as not it was before he was a rabbi. He this is when he was a pilot. Rabbi Ari the pilot taught me how an airplane gains. altitude

40:41 this is not a quote from Rabbi Artie, but it is a quote from the wife of another pilot. To go up and increase the the altitude you need to change the attitude first. I want you to apply all of this to our own lives when you're reading this with me. You need to change the attitude first. and Power To maintain the best climb speed and trim the aircraft to maintain the desired climbing profile. The acronym is apt are we learned that too when he was in school when he was getting his Degree in Aeronautical science?

41:29 But I want you I want you to apply this. Right. I want you to apply this take a look at it. Let's break it down. So if you want to if you want to gain altitude. The first thing you have to do is change your attitude. If you're flying low and you say I can't get out of this. I'm flying low. How do I get up? Change your attitude. That's the first thing you change as your attitude. When you change your attitude, then you increase your speed until you change your attitude. Don't increase the speed. You'll never take off.

42:16 But you increase the speed once you once you change your attitude. You know how you change your attitude? Instead of looking at each other instead of looking down. Oh. I'm looking I'm looking into direction that where I want to go. I'm looking up. I'm gonna change my attitude. And as soon as you do that. You increase the speed. So you really do you get you take off you go up. Now it's hard for some people I get it hard for all of us. I try to take a speed reading course one time. And because I'm blind in one eye I didn't realize that I couldn't speed read.

43:04 No matter how many courses I took. The I couldn't get I couldn't get it. The the teacher of the course finally came to me and she says I don't understand why you're not getting it I said, well, I am blind in one eye. She says oh She said she says you're like a plane. You're like an airplane on the runway that can't take off. Your speed you're reading speed will always be on the ground never in the air. That was a big lesson for me. But it's not so true with our attitude.

43:51 The first thing we do change our attitude increase the speed toward that attitude and then trim the aircraft that's a little more heart difficult to understand already can explain that much better than I can. But they're apparently there's a trim dial. And at least in a small plane. If it's not a computerized plane. There's a trim dial that makes the work it changes the flaps and it makes the work much easier as you're climbing. And as you're as you're increasing your speed so that you're not working so hard to do it. So we just need to apply that to our own lives. Zig Ziglar, have you ever heard of him? He's he's passed away

44:39 now, but he said attitude not aptitude determines altitude. So it's it's your attitude. It's not your giftings or your talent. That determine your attitude. I have known too many people who are so gifted and so talented who have crashed their lives because of a bad attitude. They could have gotten really high. But because of their attitude they didn't make it. Didn't get the altitude. so have this attitude why am I talking so much about attitude now the kingdom of God is Generally opposite the kingdom of this world.

45:26 So have this attitude Among Us. In Philippians chapter 2 verse 5. Rossio writes let your attitude toward one another be governed. By your being in Union with the Messiah Yeshua. A lot of times a bad attitude also represents somebody who doesn't want to be governed. You don't want anybody ruling over you. I can think for myself I can do for myself. well This is part of the deal. You want to believe in Yeshua. You have to let him govern your life. You want to be a citizen of Heaven you have to you have to go according to the rules in heaven.

46:16 the Heavenly rules So here is the primary pillar. Here's the primary pillar. of this attitude humility now to gain altitude in our world system. I just share with you all the stuff about flying. but to gain altitude or to gain height notoriety position success in this world system. Most people don't mind stepping on other people.

47:01 And climbing on other people to get up the ladder. especially the corporate ladder not so in the Heavenly Kingdom the Heavenly kingdom is the opposite. You go down. You humble yourself. you exhale not inhale You consider others? As important or more important than yourself. You know something I learned. in life if I take my eyes off of myself. And I begin to help other people.

47:48 It brings joy into my life. I used to be really depressed when I was younger. I couldn't get out of it. Marlene remembers it was pretty bad. demonic But I got delivered from that depression and I learned this Secret. Due for others. Instead of always doing for my for myself. It brought great. Joy into my life. It promotes the joy of the Lord. So I saw this t-shirt.

48:34 It said normal is not coming back. But Yeshua is. So we have a great expectation friends. We have a great expectation of yeshua's return and Sue coats celebrates. This is the time of year. We celebrate the coming of the king who said to us. In Matthew 24 be ready. What are we doing to be ready? I mean what if I told you he was coming tomorrow night at Sue code? You can Rejoice. I'm not sure as much you can do now to get ready. But in the meantime be ready be on the

49:20 alert. for his coming as I mentioned before oftentimes Joy comes in the midst of suffering. The joy of the Lord is our strength. Carrying our own burdens will only burden us down. It's time for us to give our load to Yeshua you want to receive yeshua's invitation. It's not like he's saying oh boy. I hope that person doesn't give me his load. No, listen, look at what he says. Come to me all. of you all of you Who are burdened? And I will give you rest.

50:09 rest for your souls not just rest for your body. rest for your souls in Romans 12 verse 12 rejoice in your hope be patient in your troubles and continue steadfastly in prayer. saman, Sim container the season of our rejoicing Sukkot is the most future oriented Festival of all the times that we observe. This is the time that we look forward to.

50:57 The Return of the King if any of you are into Tolkien The Return of the King what a great time of rejoicing but you probably have to go through a little bit of suffering Which is considered light. In reference to the coming Glory. That will be ours. whoops So Joy is the most prominent emotion the most prominent expression besides building a Circa. of Sukkot That's why I wanted to focus on Joy.

51:43 And anticipating the presence and the provision of God is our great. Hope hang on to these things because this is our future anticipating the presence of God in our midst and knowing of his Provisions until then is our great. hope the hope we have in a living Messiah Yeshua our King. Who is returning to us? So? hugot samayak rejoice may the Lord bless you and keep you may the

52:29 Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you. And give you peace. Give our recognize. vase my I don't know. knows he saw tonight.

53:20 In the name of our Messiah Yeshua shabbat shalom machines.