The festival of Sukkot, which 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 sukkah 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 sukkah 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 sukkah - 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 sukkah is to be hugged by G‑d…
More deeply, the idea of the sukkah is to be "hugged" by G‑d. This immersion in the mitzvah, by entering the sukkah, 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 sukkah as well; as long as we do not leave the sukkah, the Almighty is still hugging us. Also, by living in the sukkah 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. Each of us will make the blessing on the Four Species with great joy. 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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