The second half of this week’s parsha, Pinchas, discusses the Karbon Tamid (daily offering) and the karbonos (offerings) brought on Shabbos, Rosh Chodesh, and the Yomim Tovim (Festivals). The Karbonos brought on Sukkos are different than the other days because each of the seven days of Sukkos, a different number of animals are brought as a Karbon. Pesach also has seven days, but the Karbon offered on the second through seventh days are all the same. Only on Sukkos are they different. The Sages also note there are extra letters in the Karbonos brought on the different days of Sukkos. On the second day, there is an extra ‘mem’ which is not necessary. The sixth day has an extra ‘yud’ and the seventh day there is an extra ‘mem’. These three letters spell the word ‘mayim’ which means “water”. From here, our Sages learn that there is a special offering to be brought during Sukkos, which is the Nisuch HaMayim. Every day during the year, along with the bringing of the karbonos, wine libations are brought. During Sukkos, though, water libations are brought.

When the Temple stood, the schedule for Sukkos was as follows. Except for the first day of Sukkos and Shabbos Chol HaMoed, during everyday of Sukkos, around sunset, a great celebration would begin in the Beis HaMikdash full of dancing and enjoyment. The Gemara says the Sages would perform amazing entertainment like juggling glass and torches. Our Sages tell us that anyone who did not see this event has never seen true joy in their lifetime. The celebration would last all night until the morning. At the break of day, the water, which had already been drawn, would be offered up on the altar. If a person thinks about the order of these events, they look like they are out of order. The reason for the dancing is because of the nisuch ha’mayim, but the festivities happen before the water is poured! Have you ever been to a wedding where the main dancing is done before the man and woman are wed? That would be insane! So why are the events out of order in this case?

It is so we can learn a great lesson! It is to teach us to get “fired up” to do a mitzvah. We would dance and celebrate before bringing the Nisuch HaMayim so we would bring it with much excitement. We would be full of joy and inspiration when the water would be poured on the altar. This is the reason the events are out of order. But this brings up a different question: why was the order changed for the Nisuch HaMayim and not other mitzvos? The reason is because we can learn how to behave when performing all of the other mitzvos from the way we behave doing this mitzvah. The Nisuch HaMayim ceremony is not specifically mentioned in the Torah; as mentioned earlier, it is learned out by a few extra letters in the verses. Also, this mitzvah is not that “glorious” of a mitzvah. Water is the most abundant element in this world as it covers over two-thirds of all of the earth. Water is not something that is noted as being very special. But we celebrate before performing the mitzvah of Nisuch HaMayim to teach us even for this mitzvah we should be full of complete joy and happiness. If we are full of excitement for this mitzvah, how much more so for all other mitzvos. The Nisuch HaMayim celebration is out of order to teach us that anytime we perform a mitzvah, we should be full of joy and inspiration, no matter how big or how small the mitzvah is.

Good Shabbos!
-yes
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