To truly appreciate Judaism, what it is about and what its goal is for mankind, we must thoroughly understand its founder, Avraham Avinu, our Patriarch. Who was he and what did he do for all humanity?

With renewed interest and enthusiasm, we began again the yearly Torah reading cycle. Having read the first parsha of בראש’ת, B’resheit, last week, we continue this week with the well-known story of Noach and the Flood. In these parshiot, as well as others to come, our excitement is tempered by nagging questions lurking behind the scenes. Chief among these are did these events really occur? Is the Torah’s account true? Don’t these stories seem far-fetched?

Rambam (Maimonides) mentions a fascinating mitzvah at the end of the Laws of Lulav. Even though on every yom tov there is an obligation to be happy and rejoice, ושמחת בחגך, on Sukkot there is an additional Torah obligation of שמחה יתירה “you shall rejoice in front of Hashem seven days.” What is the nature and meaning of this special celebration?