Shalom Friends,

Hashem instructed Israel to celebrate His feasts (The Feast of Matzah, Shavuot, and the Feast of Sukkot) in the place where He would choose to place His name (Jerusalem).  Each year the heads of households (at least) would go up to Jerusalem to keep the feasts of Hashem.

How can one afford to celebrate the feasts of Hashem in Jerusalem?

Hashem provided a way to finance these festival celebrations.  He instructed that a tenth of each family's income was to be given to support the Levites.  He also instructed that a second tenth was to be set aside for celebrating His festivals.  In Deuteronomy 14:22-26 we find this instruction:

Every year you shall set aside a tenth part of all the yield from your planting that the field brings forth.  You shall consume the tithe of your new grain, wine and oil, and the firstlings of your herds and flocks, in the presence of Hashem your God, in the place where He will choose to establish His name, so that you may learn to revere Hashem forever.  If the distance is too great for you and you are unable to transport them, because the place where Hashem your God has chosen to establish His name is far from you and because Hashem your God has blessed you, you may sell them for money.  You shall wrap up the money and take it with you to the place that Hashem your God has chosen and spend it on anything you want -- cattle, sheep, wine, or other alcoholic beverage, or anything you may desire.  You shall feast there in the presence of Hashem your God, and rejoice with your household.

At the very least, one should try to celebrate the Feast of Sukkot in Jerusalem each year (Zechariah 14:16-19).  We have twelve months to diligently save our festival tithe -- Let's meet in Jerusalem for Sukkot!

Kol tov,
Shomeir