In a congregation that I worked for in England a man complained to me that he would come more often but it was so boring. Every time he came to shul, they were always talking about Jonah, Jonah, nothing but Jonah. I explained that this was because he only came on Yom Kippur.

If you are going to choose one day a year to come to shul, why on earth would you make it Yom Kippur? The longest, most difficult day with the longest most difficult liturgy and no food!

No dancing, no l'chaims, no brochah, just a day of guilt! If you are going to make it once a year, at least do it on Purim, or Chanukah or Simchat Torah, when it's going to be fun!

Once-a-year-Jews probably think that Judaism is all about suffering and deprivation and this is what makes us holy people. No way!

In fact, the opposite. The Talmud tells us that in the world to come, we will have to answer for every legitimate pleasure that we denied ourselves. Imagine - God asking you why you didn't climb Table Mountain, learn to kite-surf, dance, sing or laugh more, or taste my mother's parveh ice cream.

On Sukkot, the Torah tells us, we are commanded to be happy, to celebrate.

No long faces, hear. Get to your nearest sukkah, shake the Lulav and Etrog, eat your fill, camp out under the stars, join the Sukkot braai on Sunday and then party all night long on Monday and Tues morning for Simchat Torah. May this be the tone for the rest of the year too.