Special holiday reading for Sukkot Day 5 on 19 Tisrei, 5765 - October 4, 2004 Sukkot Chol Ha Moed Intermediary Day 3: Holiday Torah reading Just the Maftir; Maftir: Numbers 29:23-31; Haftarah: None; Mei Kituvim: Ecclesiastes (Kohelet) 7:1 to 9:18; Brit Chadashah: variable reading or verses

The Bagel: Stripping death. When Aaron died the glory of his personal priestly office died with him. Death stripped him of his office. This can be seen the text: "Strip Aaron of his vestments and put them on his son Eleazar. There Aaron shall be gathered unto the dead" (Numbers 20:26 Tanakh JPS). Death always strips, but there is a remedy for this.

Torah: Maftir reading:
Numbers 29:23-31. In the Sukkot Chol Ha Moed 3rd Day Maftir reading, is the requirement for sacrifical animals on Sukkot. Those animals died in sacrifice and were literally stripped (of their skins) and burned.

Mei Kituvim:
Ecclesiastes (Kohelet) 7:1 to 9:18. In the reading of the Kituvim, Solomon speaks of another kind of stripping that death does. This kind stripping removes foolish thinking: "....the day of death (is better) than the day of birth. It is better to go to a house of mourning than to a house of feasting; for that is the end of every man, and a living one should take it to heart" (Ecclesiastes 7:1-2 Tanakh JPS). Death removes all delusions about any permanency down here "under the sun." It is astonding how many people build their lives on things that death will strip away. There are no suitcases traveling with the dead.

There was a man who prayed so hard to God and asked if he could take his gold with him. He prayed this way for years. Finally, God gave him an audience and told him that a special dispensation was granted him. He would be allowed to take two suitcases to heaven with him when he dies. He immediately packed up those suitcases with gold bars that he had accumulated over the years and stowed them in the attic. Years later, sure enough he died. The angel that called on him to go to heaven was stopped. The man told the angel: "I have a special dispensation from God, we will stop by the attic and I will take my two suitcases." The angel whinced and said "All right!" When they arrived at the pearly gates another angel seeing the suitcases said: "What on earth...?" "It's all right" the man said "I had a special dispensation from God!" Passing through the corridors of heaven they finally arrived at Saint Peter's gate. St. Peter looked at the man and the suitcases and said "What is this?" "It's all right" he repeated" I got a special dispensation from God to bring these." Peter responded "Put 'em on that table and open 'em up and let's see what you got!" So, the man opened the first suitcase and there is was packed with gold buillions. Then he opened the other one and the same thing. St. Peter laughed and said "Are you crazy! Why would anyone want to pack along two suitcases full of pavement stones!"*

YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU!

Brit Chadashah:
When we get to the Brit Chadashah, Yeshua told a story of how death strips away things:

And he gave an illustration: "A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. In fact, his barns were full to overflowing. So he said, 'I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store everything. And I'll sit back and say to myself, My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!' "But God said to him, 'You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get it all?' "Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God" (Luke 12:16-21 NLT).