Today is Shabbat, Chol HaMoed Sukkot – the intermediate day of Sukkot, which happens to fall on the Sabbath. Hol HaMoed is the Hebrew term referring to middle days of Sukkot and Passover, which are less “special” than the first and last days, but part of the holiday nonetheless. While in honor of Shabbat, we will not wave the Lulav and Etrog today, there are special Sukkot features to our holiday:

* Ya'aleh V'yavo: We recite a special prayer in the Shacharit (morning) Amidah in honor of Sukkot.

* Torah Reading: Our regular Torah portion is pre-empted so that we can read a portion from the Book of Exodus, which has a connection to the holiday. We also removed two Torahs from the ark. From the second Torah we read a portion from the Book of Numbers (chapter 29:26-31 – page 935) which mentions the wilderness offerings brought forward on the fourth and fifth days of Sukkot.

* Haftorah: Today's selection from the prophets comes from the Book of Ezekiel (pages 1260-1262). The selection details an apocalyptic/end-of-time vision when all enemies of Israel will cease to exist. According to tradition, the war which will bring on the Messianic age is to occur on Sukkot.

* Musaf: Following the Torah reading, the Musaf (additional) part of our service is a Festival Musaf, which includes Sukkot themes.

* Hoshanot: During the first seven days of Sukkot, we include the Hoshanot, a procession in which we ask God to remember us as God remembered our predecessors. On weekdays of Sukkot we remove the Torah and make a procession with Lulav and Etrog in hand. On Shabbat, however, we recite one of the Hoshanot and open the ark, but we do not remove a Torah, nor do we make procession with Lulav and Etrog. The Shabbat Hoshanot will include Shabbat themes of study, lighting candles and enjoyment.

General Themes in the Torah Reading (Exodus 33:12-34:26)

* Following Moshe's plea, God's Presence will accompany Am Yisrael.

* Two new tablets are engraved to replace the original commandments.

* THE THIRTEEN ATTRIBUTES OF GOD: According to Rabbinic texts, whenever Israel was in crisis or danger, they should pray for God's mercy by reciting these attributes. During the Festivals we ask for God's mercy, such as during the Hoshanot later on in the Sukkot service when we ask for redemption.

* Mentioning of the Regalim, including Sukkot (referred to as Hag Ha'Aseef, the festival of the Ingathering.)

** Moses asks for greater insight into God's nature:

Now, if I had indeed found favor in Your eyes,
allow me to know Your ways, so that I will know
how to remain pleasing in Your eyes... (33:12)
Moses said: Please show me Your Glory... (33:18)
...When I take away My Hand you will see My back
but My face shall not be seen... (33:23)

The following are several commentaries on the above verses:

-  Louis Jacobs: Once a term like “back” in the passage was treated metaphorically to convey the idea that humans can comprehend some aspects of divine manifestation; it followed that face was to be interpreted to mean other aspects which can never be comprehended by mortal people

-  Rashi: Encouraged by the favorable reply he received, Moses made a further request, viz, to be shown the reflection of the glory of God.

-  Ibn Ezra: Your Glory denotes God.

- Rashbam: It is inconceivable that Moses should have asked to be shown the glory of God. What he requested was that his twofold prayer should be granted, which would be a manifestation of the Divine glory.

*   S.R. Hirsch: Moses' first request was that he might be given an understanding of the ways of God so that he might attain an understanding of God…. Moses' second request is on a higher level. He now seeks to obtain a direct perception of God from which an understanding of God's ways naturally follows. The perception he now seeks is on a higher level, that of intuition.

Haftorah Ezekiel 38:18-39:16 (pages 1260-1262)

The Haftorah for Shabbat Hol Hamoed Sukkot introduces a common, yet complex theme. Ezekiel addresses the eventual destruction of Israel’s enemies and the future redemption/restoration of Israel. The Haftorah features Gog (a human being), who lives in the land of Magog. Ultimately, Gog and Magog will experience the wrath of God as a result of their persistent assaults on Israel. The Jewish holidays are often associated with some type of Messianic era, whereby the Jewish people will no longer be subject to enemy nations. The Haftorah does highlight the central importance of Sukkot in both the daily and future life of Am Yisrael.