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The festival of Sukkot, which begins this year on the
evening of the 29th of September and lasts for seven or eight days [depending on
if you are in Israel (7) or elsewhere (8)], follows the fast of Yom Kippur by four days.
It is customary to be happy and involve ourselves with mitzvot during
these days to show our gratitude and connection to G-d. This is important
because the entire month of Tishrei is a "head" month. This means that
every day of Tishrei has special powers and an impact on the coming year. More
specifically, although the quantity of blessings allotted to each of us is
decided on Rosh Hashanah and the appeal is on Yom Kippur, we still have another
chance to change this decision during Sukkot. The difference is that instead of
approaching our service in a way of awe, the required service for Sukkot is joy,
happiness and unity.  | | " G-d is really the one in control..." | | |
There are two special commandments during Sukkot
which make it unique among the other festivals. They are: (1) the act of
dwelling in the sukka for seven days (eight days outside of Israel), and
(2) the taking of the Four Species - the lulav (date palm), the etrog
(citron fruit), the haddasim (myrtle) and the aravot (willows).
There are many laws concerning these two very exalted mitzvot, and although
textual study is optimal, you also can ask a local rabbi if you have any
questions.
As people around the world return to their secure
homes after a summer outdoors, the Jewish people are doing the opposite. We
leave our homes to dwell in the sukka and are hence reminded of "who is
the Boss". We can easily fool ourselves into thinking that it was our own
efforts that brought about our success. Living in the uncertainty of the
sukka - knowing that if it rains, we get wet and if its chilly, we get cold
- reminds us that in every aspect of our lives, G-d is really the one in
control. | | " The idea of the sukka is to be hugged by G-d..." | | |
More deeply, the idea of the sukka is to be
"hugged" by G-d. This immersion in the mitzvah, by entering the sukka,
results in a level of union to the Infinite that is only available to us after
the Days of Awe. There are two advantages to hugging over other types of
affectionate contact. One is that as long as the one hugging is holding on, the
one getting hugged can't leave. Secondly, a unique aspect of being hugged is
that it brings into the relationship the back of a person, a part of the
body usually excluded. This is true with the mitzvah of the sukka as
well; as long as we do not leave the sukka, the Almighty is still hugging
us. Also, by living in the sukka we are including parts of ourselves,
i.e. sleeping, relaxing, etc., which are usually outside of our active
relationship with G-d.
Through Sukkot, Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur, the
Jewish people have both individually and communally won against the negative
spiritual forces by being signed and sealed for another good and sweet year. On
Thursday, with great joy each of us will for the first time this year make the
blessing on the Four Species. By doing this, we are sending out our own message
of unity, with the traditional waving of the species in all six directions, and
should see ourselves as emerging from the trial, waving the palm branch of
victory. | | " Mitzvah of the Four Species involves bringing them all together as a bunch..." | | |
The Jewish Oral Tradition speaks about the Four
Species as being symbolic of four types of Jews. The etrog, which has
both a taste and smell, symbolizes Jews who are both actively involved in Jewish
lifestyle (i.e. conscientiously perform the commandments) and learn and think
about their Jewish heritage. The lulav, which has good taste but lacks
good smell, represents those Jews who are actively involved but lack proper
knowledge and intentions. The haddasim, which have a pleasant smell but
lack a good taste are the reverse, i.e. a Jew who might have good intentions but
does not do anything actively Jewish. Lastly, are the aravot, which lack
both good smell and taste, representing Jews who are both ignorant of our
tradition and are not actively involved in positive actions. The mitzvah of the
Four Species involves bringing them all together as a bunch, so that, as the
Almighty promises, one will help atone for the other. This is particularly
important after the High Holidays, for what better ingredient for a successful
new year than to break down the separations between people. What father can
resist seeing his children loving one another.
Chag Someyach and Shabbat Shalom!
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