SUCCOS
Can you figure out what each picture has to do with the parsha?
Rabbi Dani Staum
KEY to Succos Pix
Signed, Sealed and Delivered – Although our decree is written on Rosh Hashanah and sealed on Yom Kippur, it is not actually ‘delivered to this world’ until Hoshanah Rabbah. Therefore, we can repent out of love and joy during Succos, and it can still affect the outcome of our judgement. That is also why the prayers on Hoshanah Rabbah are more intense and take on more of a Yom Kippur feeling, despite the fact that it’s Chol Hamoed Succos.
Rabbi Avrohom Yeshaya Karelitz zt”l, the “Chazon Ish” – When purchasing an Esrog, it is imperative that one buy an esrog that has verification that it is a pure breed esrog, and no branches of other fruits were grafted with the esrog tree. It is well-known that the Chazon Ish gave Rav Michel Lefkowitz zt’l esrog seeds with which to plant an esrog tree. The Chazon Ish told Rav Michel that they were seeds of pure esrogim (no grafts). Many try to purchase “Chazon Ish” esrogim which are ‘descended’ from Rav Michel Lefkowitz’s tree. (Of course, there are many other worthy esrogim carriers as well.)
In addition, there are many stringencies that the Chazon Ish was particular about regarding the construction of a Succah. Because it isn’t easy to construct them, having a true “Chazon Ish succah” is not common.
Dancing on Simchas Torah – The universally accepted custom is to celebrate our annual completion of the Torah during the holiday of Shemini Atzeres (outside of Eretz Yisroel the second day of Shemini Atzeres is referred to as Simchas Torah).
War of Gog UmaGog – The Prophets foretold that Armageddon will take place before Moshiach comes, called the battle of Gog against MaGog. There are different opinions about how it will play out and whether the Jewish people will be targeted or if they will be on one side along with other nations. We read about the epic battle in the haftorah on the first day of Succos (Zechariah) and Shabbos Chol Hamoed Succos (Yechezkel), because there is a tradition that the battle will take place on Succos (Tur Oh”C 407).
Holding Daled Minim (overlooking Har Habayis) – One of the beloved mitzvos of Succos is to hold, and shake, the Four Species. In the time of the Bais Hamikdash the entire nation would (and will) gather in the Bais Hamikdash to perform the mitzvah there.
Bucket to draw water from well – During the time of the Beis HaMikdash, nisuch hamayim (pouring of the water) was an important part of Sukkos. This water was drawn early in the morning from the Shiloach Spring, which flowed near the Beis HaMikdash. The entire previous night was devoted to celebrations in the courtyard of the Beis HaMikdash. The Levi’im played music, people juggled lit torches and sang and danced throughout the night. The Gemara says about the great joy of the Simchas Beis HaShoeva that one who did not see the joy of the water-drawing celebrations, has not seen true joy in his life.
Rain – Throughout Succos rain (in Eretz Yisroel) is a curse, because it prevents us from performing the mitzvah of dwelling in the succah. However, on Shemini Atzeres, when the mitzvah of succah has ended, we daven for rain throughout the winter.
Mammash (literal/actual) – There is a noted dispute in the gemara why we live in a succah during succos. Rabbi Eliezer says it’s to recall the divine clouds that surrounded, protected and enhanced the lives of our ancestors during their 40-year travels in the desert. Rabbi Akiva however opines that it is to remind us of the סוכות ממש – the actual huts that they dwelled in during those years. (There is much discussion as to why we commemorate their living in huts during our week-long celebration of Succos).
Havel havolim – Vanity of vanities – On Shabbos Chol Hamoed Succos (or on Shemini Atzeres if there is no Shabbos Chol Hamoed) we read Megillas Koheles. In the lengthy Megillah, Koheles (Shlomo Hamelech) relates that wisdom and experience taught him that the pleasures of this world are fleeting and ultimately worthless. In the end, the only thing that truly matters is how G-d-fearing one is. One reason it is read on Succos is so that during our intense celebration, we remind ourselves what we are really celebrating, what is worth celebrating, and what is not worth celebrating.
Time to be Happy – in our prayers, Succos is called “the season of our happiness”. We celebrate the physical bounty of our now harvested crops, and spiritually celebrate the renewed opportunity we have to serve Hashem after having attained repentance on Yom Kippur.
Only 1 – Throughout the seven days of Succos a total of 70 oxen were offered upon the Mizbeiach (as part of the Korban Mussaf brought each day). These 70 oxen corresponded to the 70 nations of the world. Then, on Shemini Atzeres, only 1 ox was brought to symbolize Klal Yisroel. Chasam Sofer writes that Shemini Atzeres is the deepest and highest point of connection between Hashem and Klal Yisroel of the year!
Temporary versus Permanent – On Succos we move out of our homes into a flimsy succah, which must be made as a temporary structure. The main part of the succah is the s’chach. It serves as a reminder that ultimately our security comes only from Hashem, not from strong homes or alarm systems.
Ushpizin – During each of the seven days of Succos we focus on the greatness and eternal contribution of one of the seven ‘shepherds’ of the Jewish people – Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov, Moshe, Aharon, Yosef, Dovid. Some say that the souls of those seven personalities join us in the Succah during their respective day.
70 – As mentioned above, during Succos 70 oxen were brought on the Mizbeiach.
