“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Hoshanah Rabbah/Erev Shabbos Kodesh-Shemini
Atzeres 5781
21 Tishrei 5781/October 9, 2020
To be added
to my “Striving Higher” WhatsApp chat with periodic chizuk clips,
or my “Power Parenting” WhatsApp chat with weekly ideas about parenting,
text me at 845-641-5094.
PRICKED
FINGERS
Succos
is an all-encompassing holiday - soul, emotion and body. Our souls are
rejuvenated with the feeling of unparalleled and joyous connection with Hashem.
We are emotionally uplifted and swept away by the season of joy. As for our
bodies, the succah envelops our entire being, our stomachs are nourished by
delicious holiday meals, and the Four Species symbolize our spine, heart, eyes
and mouth.
Aside
for the core organs symbolized by the Four Species, I often think about my
fingers during Succos, especially during the days immediately prior. Although
the Medrash doesn’t mention fingers, I invariably get a few splinters in my
fingers as I take the wooden succah boards out of our garage and haul them up
to our porch. Then, I get a few more bamboo splinters as I put the schach up.
Finally, as I put the knots around the lulav, I always get a couple of pricks
from the sharp edges of the lulav leaves. It’s amazing how much those hurt.
Of
course, the real message is that I buy strong gloves and use them when I put up
the succah, but that’s a lesson I never seem to learn. So, I at least try to
think of a symbolic lesson to be gleaned. What’s the message of all the finger
pricks before Succos?
As
mentioned, Succos is a time of unparalleled connection with the divine. The
succah contains the holiness of Yerushalayim and all we do in it is sanctified
within its holy confines. Shaking the Four Species demonstrates that we can
take the holiness within us and externalize it, radiating it outwards in all
directions.
This
idea is all the more poignant for those who have the custom to shake the Four
Species in the succah. Perhaps it symbolizes that we can take the holiness
endemic to the succah and spread it in all directions. That is essentially the
goal of the Jewish People in exile - to spread holiness and kiddush Hashem
throughout the world!
Before
we can embrace and bask in that world of holiness, we must embrace unity and
love for every Jew. Doing so entails that we stop pointing fingers. We must
stop believing that our path towards G-d is the only proper one or that we have
the monopoly on proper Torah outlook. The only area we should be unyielding is regarding
adherence to halacha, but regarding the pathway to connection with G-d, we have
to be willing to accept that there are different methodologies.
The
halacha is that the minimum acceptable number of walls for a succah is two
walls plus an additional tefach-handbreadth of a third wall.
The
Zohar states that two walls and a little bit of a third wall is symbolic of a
hug. When one hugs someone else, his arms wrap around the recipient, with his
elbows bent inward, and his fingers edging inwards. It’s as if there are two
full parts and an additional little bit doing the hugging. Incredibly, the
succah is symbolic of a divine hug from G-d to us.
One of
the mornings of our beautiful Chol Hamoed learning program this week, Rabbi
Dovid Rube, related this idea from the Zohar. He then added that when one hugs
another, he pulls the person closely and tightly. Then, after feeling that embrace,
the recipient is able to venture beyond, fortified with the love that was
conveyed. That brief closeness gives him the ability to go beyond what is
familiar and comfortable.
The
divine hug of Succos is meant, not only to remain with us throughout the year,
but also to spiritually fuel us throughout the year. But we must also recognize
that, not only are we hugged by the succah, so is every other Jew who performs
this beloved and unique mitzvah. To fully appreciate and internalize the love
of the succah we cannot point fingers accusatorially. We have to feel love for
each other and see the good in each other in order to fully feel the love from
above.
There is
one time when pointing is appropriate:
The
Gemara (Taanis 31a) states that in the future messianic world, the righteous
will form a circle around Hashem. They will point towards Hashem in the center
and declare, “This is Hashem, to Whom we have hoped; we will rejoice and be
happy in His salvation.”
The
Chofetz Chaim noted that different sects of Jews serve Hashem in different
ways. As long as their intentions are for the sake of Heaven and they observe
halacha, they will all celebrate together. At that time, we will discover that
the Jew who seems diametrically opposed to another may be on the other side of
the circle, equidistant from Hashem.
Every
Jew is part of that circle. The only appropriate pointing is inwards at G-d.
But when we point at each other, the schach and the lulav metaphorically prick
us, reminding us that their poignant message cannot resonate until we see the
greatness of our brethren.
May
Hashem imbue is with the simcha of these days, banish pain, and raise the pride
of Klal Yisroel who are fully committed to fulfilling His Will.
G’mar Tov & Git Kvittel,
Shabbat Shalom & Good Shabbos,
Chag Sameiach & Freilichen Yom Tov,
R’
Dani and Chani Staum