Suggested Discussion Questions
1. What are the three feasts described here?
2. What is the significance of the fact that the three major Jewish holidays described here are centered around agricultural markers?
(ג) הַקְּרוֹבִים מְבִיאִים הַתְּאֵנִים וְהָעֲנָבִים, וְהָרְחוֹקִים מְבִיאִים גְּרוֹגָרוֹת וְצִמּוּקִים. וְהַשּׁוֹר הוֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵיהֶם, וְקַרְנָיו מְצֻפּוֹת זָהָב, וַעֲטֶרֶת שֶׁל זַיִת בְּרֹאשׁוֹ. הֶחָלִיל מַכֶּה לִפְנֵיהֶם, עַד שֶׁמַּגִּיעִים קָרוֹב לִירוּשָׁלָיִם. הִגִּיעוּ קָרוֹב לִירוּשָׁלַיִם, שָׁלְחוּ לִפְנֵיהֶם, וְעִטְּרוּ אֶת בִּכּוּרֵיהֶם. הַפַּחוֹת, הַסְּגָנִים וְהַגִּזְבָּרִים יוֹצְאִים לִקְרָאתָם. לְפִי כְבוֹד הַנִּכְנָסִים הָיוּ יוֹצְאִים. וְכָל בַּעֲלֵי אֻמָּנִיּוֹת שֶׁבִּירוּשָׁלַיִם עוֹמְדִים לִפְנֵיהֶם וְשׁוֹאֲלִין בִּשְׁלוֹמָם, אַחֵינוּ אַנְשֵׁי הַמָּקוֹם פְּלוֹנִי, בָּאתֶם לְשָׁלוֹם:
Those near brought figs and grapes. And those far brought dried figs and raisins.And the ox went before them, with its horns gold plated and an olive crown on its head.The flute played before them until they arrived close to Jerusalem.When they arrived close to Jerusalem, they sent before them and bedecked their Bikurim.The supervisors,deputies, and the treasurers went out to meet them.They went out according to the rank of those entering. All the craftsmen in Jerusalem stood before them and greeted them our brothers,men of such-and-such a place, come in peace. [translation from Mishna with Kehati]
תניא אמרו עליו על רבן שמעון בן גמליאל כשהיה שמח שמחת בית השואבה היה נוטל שמנה אבוקות של אור וזורק אחת ונוטל אחת ואין נוגעות זו בזו וכשהוא משתחוה נועץ שני גודליו בארץ ושוחה ונושק את הרצפה וזוקף ואין כל בריה יכולה לעשות כן וזו היא קידה.
It was taught: They said of Rabban Simeon ben Gamaliel that when he rejoiced at the [temple ceremony on Sukkot which was called the] 'rejoicing at the place of the water-drawing', he used to take eight lighted torches [and throw them in the air] and catch one and throw one and they did not touch one another; and when he prostrated himself, he used to dig his two thumbs in the ground, bend down, kiss the ground, and draw himself up again, a feat which no other man could do, and this is what is meant by Kidah [bowing to the ground]. [Translation by Judaic Classics Library]
Suggested Discussion Questions
1. The “rejoicing at the place of the water drawing” (Simchat Beit Hashoeva) ceremony is portrayed as the height of happiness and celebration. Sukkot is known as the holiday for “Simcha” (joy). What do you think was the source of the happiness in this celebration?
2. How did Rabban Simeon ben Gamaliel reflect his joy? Do you consider this an appropriate expression of joy for a great rabbi?
3. How can we bring joy into our appreciation of natural resources such as water?