There are many mitzvos that are specific to Succos. Aside from the mitzvos we can observe today, Succah, Hakafos, and the Four Species, there are also a number that can only be kept in the Beis HaMikdosh, including the 70 Musaf bulls, and Nissuach Hamayim (water drawing) followed by Simchas Beis HaShoevah. The Yom Tov has several names: In tefillah it is called Chag HaSuccos and Z'man Simchaseinu (the time of our joy), in Talmud it is simply Chag, "Festival", and in a more agricultural vein it is also referred to as Chag Ha'asif - the Harvest Festival. One would like to have an understanding of how this diverse jumble of facts combine to make one holiday, and what this festival is supposed to represent.

The Mishna (Pirke Avos 4:1) states "Who is rich? One who is "sameiach" with his lot." It seems from here that Rabbinically "simcha" is contentment, satisfaction. Not just joy, as one would feel at particular occasions, but happiness as a general state of mind. We say in davening "Yismichu Hashamayim Visagel Haaretz", "the Heaven will be 'sameiach' and the earth will 'gilah'". Simcha is reserved for the immutable heavens, whereas gilah refers to the transitory earth, even though both words are normally translated as happiness.

Using this we can understand a couple of the references we listed above. Succos is called "Z'man Simchaseinu" a time to feel simcha, contentment with our lot. Succos is to celebrate how Hashem protected us and fed us during our journey in the desert (Mishna Berura 625:1). It is thus a symbol of how He sustains us throughout all time. This is our lot, with this we should be happy. The Holiday is simply "Chag", "Festival", as its existence as a time for rejoicing is significant.

Succos is also Chag HaAsiph - the time for gathering the grain. Winter is beginning, and we thank Hashem for giving us the food to survive it. Thus Succos had to be in the Winter, when we feel the need for Divine aid more.

At the time of the Temple, this happiness found expression in Simchas Beis HaShoevah, the celebration which accompanied the offering of water.

"Whoever did not see the Simchas Beis Hashoeva," says the Mishna (Succah 51a), never saw true Simcha in his life. In preparation for this great scene of music, singing and dancing which accompanied the drawing of water to be poured on the altar during the offering of the daily morning sacrifice on Succos, a "major adjustment" was made in the Beis Hamikdash.

During this unique celebration, the Sages "would dance...with lighted torches, singing songs and praises, and the Levites would play harps and lyres, cymbals and trumpets, and countless other musical instruments."

But, what was this "major adjustment"?
Since there was an interest in enabling women to watch this great celebration, precautions had to be taken to prevent the mingling of men and women. After a couple of experiments in separating them on one level proved unsuccessful, it was decided to build a gallery from which the women could look down upon the proceedings without any danger of contact with the men below. This required building girders into the walls, and each Succos placing boards on them to form the balconies.

This is the joy of Simchas Beis Hashoevah. Rav S. R. Hirsch, in his commentary on Chumash (Bamidbar 29:19) describes Nissuach HaMayim, the special water libations as "pouring every drop of his joy in life into the foundations of the Altar of G-d's Torah, signifying it as coming from Him". Again, the key to Succos is found to be Simcha in the portion G-d has allotted us.

We remarked that over Succos and Shemini Atseres seventy Musaf offerings were brought. We are told that these 70 sacrifices correspond to the seventy nations of the world. "Poseiach es Yadecha, umasbiah lichol chai ratson" - "You open Your Hand, and feed every living thing what it desires" (Tehillim 145:16). In contrast to the message of Pesach, Divine Aid in sustenance is a universal theme, and all seventy nations must give thanks.

Though the Beis HaMikdash is destroyed, we can experience the happiness of Simchas Beis HaShoevah by commemorating the water offering with celebrations throughout the Sukkos holiday. Participating in these celebrations generates the potential for us to "see happiness" throughout the year to come. This happiness precipitates the ultimate celebrations of the Era of the Redemption. At that time the sacrificial service will be renewed, and with joyful hearts we will again bring the water offerings in the Beis HaMikdash.

So, there are in many communities where people are celebrating Simchas Beis HaShoevah during Succos, dancing to the accompaniment of live music.