30 Adar I, 5774 (3/2/14) – Sukkah#27 {Tani}

R’ Ilai was visiting his rabbi, R’ Eliezer: R’ Eliezer explains that he lauds the “lazy ones” who stay at home with family, as it is more preferable to spend the chag with one’s family (i.e. wife, etc.) than to go away, even to visit others like your rabbi.

T’s Lesson: We should never be dismayed by “keeping up with the Joneses” who always make us feel inadequate by their lavish surroundings and livings, especially when it comes to holidays such as Pesach and Sukkot. Those people join many others in lavish hotels and the like, thereby not being like “the lazy ones” who stay at home with relatives. There is absolutely nothing wrong with spending the chag in your home with your family and having a beautiful meal shared among loved ones. This may even be preferable to spending hundreds, if not thousands, on going to a place where the holidays might lessen the mitzvah in some aspects.