SUKKOT IN A NUTSHELL

The three approaches are:

i. The sukka represents the Clouds of Glory that surrounded the Israelites during the wilderness years (R. Eliezer).

ii. Sukkot exists to remind us of our humble origins so that we never fall into the complacency of taking for granted our freedom, the land of Israel, and the blessings it yields (R. Akiva according to Rashbam).

iii. The sukka represents the courage the Israelites had to travel, to move, to leave security behind, and to follow God’s call (R. Akiva according to Rabbi Sacks).

The underlying theme of Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur is the fragility of life and how dependent we are on God for our well-being. We acknowledge this on these days and put our faith in God that He will do what is best for us. These themes are also found in the festival of Sukkot, as seen in the three approaches outlined in answer 1.

Examples can be found in every age of exile, when Jews often lived through persecution and uncertainty, yet kept their faith always and managed to hand on their love of Judaism to their children. Examples of these periods in Jewish history include the Crusades in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, the expulsion from Spain in the fifteenth century, and the Holocaust in the twentieth century.

DEEP DIVING INTO THE TEFILLA OF THE DAY

The Four Species are all native to the land of Israel and can be found there in plentiful numbers. They represent the beauty and fertility of the land. But they are all species that require much water to grow. This connects us to Sukkot’s themes of water and our dependence on God for water and all sustenance.

While other nations that have more reliable sources of water and therefore a more stable material life may live with an innate sense of security, the climate of the land of Israel causes its inhabitants to continuously look to God for rain and sustenance, thereby always encouraging spiritual growth as they examine their deeds and constantly strive to improve themselves so they are deserving of God’s help.

While today we have technology that can help us live in an arid climate that has no reliable water source (such as the Middle East), we are still dependent on rain, and are not completely independent of the need for natural water sources. However, modern Jewish history has shown us that there are many other existential threats for the Jewish people who live in the land of Israel. Perhaps we can see these as a modern-day version of needing to continuously connect to God for protection and pray for our very survival.

IT ONCE HAPPENED ON SUKKOT…

There are various Jewish values that can sometimes compete with each other. In this case, the conflicting values were the study of Torah and the mitzva of hospitality and Ḥesed (loving-kindness). The lesson he learned was that mitzvot concerning other people take priority over mitzvot that are more concerned with our own spiritual well-being and our personal connection with God.

Avraham is the first of the biblical guests we invite into our sukka during the custom of reciting Ushpizin (a different personality is invited in on each night of Sukkot). Avraham is also the most appropriate person from Jewish history to teach Rabbi Pinchas this message because he represented the core values of Ḥesed and hakhnasat orḥim (hospitality), as shown in the story of the angels who came to visit him (Bereshit ch. 18).

One of the themes of Sukkot is God’s protection and love for us in the desert as we travelled between Egypt and the land of Israel. The mitzvot of hospitality and Ḥesed in general are a way for us to be like God and behave in the same way towards our neighbours and friends.

ḤIDON ON THE ḤAG (A QUICK QUIZ)

1. Ḥag HaAsif, “The Festival of Gathering”; Ḥag, “Festival”; Zeman Simḥateinu, “The Time of Our Rejoicing.”

2. To remember the way the Israelites lived in the wilderness after they left Egypt and journeyed to the land of Israel.

3. Two and a half (minimum).

4. Something natural that once grew, but is no longer growing, and that has not been manufactured into a utensil of some sort.

5. Lulav (palm frond), etrog (citron), hadassim (myrtles), aravot (willows).

6. On each of the seven days of Sukkot (except when it is also Shabbat). We do not have a mitzva to take the Arba Minim on Shemini Atzeret/Simḥat Torah.

7. Ushpizin is a mystical custom of inviting a different biblical character into the sukka each night of Sukkot.

8. Kohelet (Ecclesiastes).

9. Special joyous water-drawing celebrations of the Temple period during which water was poured over the altar.

10. Seven times.