Love the Leaky Roof

The laws of our sukkah roof seem strange.

It needs to be open enough to see the stars.  But if it rains we're exempt from dwelling in the sukkah.  We go back inside under our year-round roof.

If so, why not just sit directly under the stars?  Why is the pretext of a roof better than no roof?

Here's my take.  A roof is the sense of self we have with which to build a nice life and take responsibility for ourselves and others. G-d expects to do and act in life.

On the other hand, the whole endeavor doesn't go if we don't see the heavens from within our responsible ambitions.  The non-functioning nature of our roof is by design and command.  It's a holy thing to work at making a roof.  It's even holier when it's permeable to the heavens.

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