“RABBI’S MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Hoshanah Rabbah 5786
20 Tishrei 5786/October 13, 2025
LIFT OFF
I made an interesting observation during the first day of Succos. Pesach is very focused on foods we eat and stories we share. The mouth is the primary part of the body used to fulfill the mitzvos of redemption. Shavuos, the holiday when we celebrate and recommit ourselves to the study of Torah is primarily cerebrally focused. It is a celebration of our ability to think and immerse ourselves in Torah study and Torah living.
Succos – at least the preparation for Succos – has a lot to do with our hands. There is a great deal of schlepping involved, particularly of things that may be taller than us. The Succah is built with bulky boards or panels, then lined with beams that traverse the top of the Succah upon which mats, rods, or branches of s’chach are laid.
There are also the four species, most prominently the tall and skinny lulav which stands above the other three species and upon which the beracha is recited each day of Succos.
The fact that we are busy trying to make proper use of materials that extend above and beyond ourselves is an appropriate analogy for what we are trying to accomplish during this exalted Yom Tov.
Every morning at the end of Pesukei d’zimrah we recite the pesukim that introduce the Shiras Hayam when Klal Yisroel recognized the incredible salvation they had merited. The pasuk states: “And Yisroel saw the great hand that Hashem did in Mitzrayim; and the nation revered Hashem and they had faith in Hashem and Moshe, His servant” (Shemos 14:31).
The Lev Aryeh (published 1671, by Rav Aryeh Leib Hashki) writes that the great hand refers to the hand of Princess Basya, the daughter of Pharaoh. When Moshe’s mother placed her three-month-old son Moshe in a basket in the Nile, he was left to the perilous mercy of his surroundings.
The Gemara (Sotah 12b) relates that when Basya came down to the Nile to bathe she saw the basket floating in the Nile a great distance away. Nevertheless, she extended her hand as far as she could. Miraculously her hand extended until she was able to retrieve the basket. That encounter proved to be the salvation of Moshe Rabbeinu.
Now as the nation stood at the edge of the sea where their archenemies had just been vanquished, they recognized that their national salvation was rooted in that initial effort by Basya to accomplish something beyond her natural capability.
In the Neilah Shemoneh Esrei recited during the waning moments of Yom Kippur, we note that Hashem “gives a hand to sinners”. Not only does Hashem accept our teshuva, He desires it and awaits it, and helps us to be successful in our efforts.
We must always strive higher in our efforts for spiritual growth. The truth is that living up to the Torah’s demanding standards and morals is daunting and somewhat beyond our capacity. But we are not expected to do it on our own. We have to do our best and push ourselves beyond our comfort zone, and then we are assured that heaven will help us achieve our aspirations. If we were instructed to bring the Divine Presence down into this world, we would be completely lost. Instead, we lug heavy boards, and beams that are longer than we are and erect a structure with valid schach on top. Then Hashem rests His Divine Presence upon the succah we constructed.
We search for the Four Species, expending time, effort and money to ensure it is of the highest quality and beauty. The Midrash (parshas Emor) relates that when we gather the Four Species together, they represent the 4 letters of the Divine Name. They also represent different types of Jews, four main organs of our bodies, and our forefathers (including Yosef hatzaddik). Regarding the Four Species as well, we do our part, and Hashem rewards our efforts many times over.
Isn’t that our story as a people. We seek to uphold the Torah and maintain our values and mission to the best of our ability. But in the end our survival is undoubtedly supernatural. As we eagerly and impatiently await the return of our hostages after two unbearable years of agony and untold torture, this idea has been made clear to us once again.
During the days before Succos, we extend our hands beyond what they normally carry. We schlepp, lift, and connect boards and screws in our effort to prepare for the unique mitzvos of the Yom Tov. Hashem values the efforts of our hands and extends them beyond anything we could have accomplished.
Once that occurs, we seek to express our blissful joy in having been the recipients of such divine closeness. But to do so our hands are no longer sufficient. At that point we need to use our feet…. to dance. That is the joy of the simchas beis hashoeivah throughout Succos culminating with the unbridled singing and dancing on Simchas Torah.
The preparation for the holiday of Succos begins with our hands and ends with our feet, as we lift every fiber of our being off the ground as if propelling ourselves heavenward.
If only we can maintain that joy and feeling of connection throughout the year and throughout our lives.
Chag Sameiach & Freilichen Yom Tov
R’ Dani and Chani Staum
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