Sukkot 5767

Commentary by Rabbi Ephraim Nisenbaum

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The holiday of Succos commemorates both the booths the Jews built during their forty-year trek through the desert after their Exodus from Egypt, and also the miraculous clouds of glory that protected them. The commentaries explain that although the Jews left Egypt in the spring, the holiday is celebrated in the autumn, after Yom Kippur, since that was when the clouds of glory returned to the nation after they were forgiven for the Golden Calf.

Succos is referred to as the period of our joy, more so than any of the other holidays. It is the joy of enjoying life in its sheer simplicity, unencumbered by the endless pursuit of materialism. As long as a person is chained to the shackles of the material world and its luxuries, he is incapable of truly enjoying life. During Succos, we move out of the security and beauty of our permanent homes and reside instead in temporary succah-huts, lacking even the most basic roof with which to protect ourselves. We eat our meals, visit, and some people even sleep, in the succah. There we can gain a new appreciation for life. Rabbeinu Bachya put it succinctly: Happiness is more in being than in having.

The Torah does not advocate a life of self-deprivation or asceticism. Quite the contrary, the Jew is often encouraged to fully enjoy the pleasures of the physical world, as part of his service to G-d. However, he must be careful not to become enslaved to the pleasures of the world. The Torah requires the Jew to leave his house for seven days, and he can then return. He need only leave long enough to ensure that he does not become dependent upon the material comforts of the world for his enjoyment.

There is also a mitzvah to take four species of plants on Succos: the esrog (citron), the lulav (date palm branch), two aravos (willow branches), and three hadassim (myrtle branches). Three of the species are tied together and held with the esrog, and waved each day during Succos, except for Shabbos.

The Sefer Hachinuch explains that the nature of these species brings a sense of happiness and contentment to a person. Here, too, the theme is that it is not necessary to travel to exotic places, nor invest in expensive forms of entertainment, to find true joy. A few simple fruits and plants, representing the different elements in nature, can bring a person the greatest sense of joy and happiness, if he would only realize it.

The satisfaction and happiness we all pursue doesn’t have to be on the other side of the world. It may be found in the succah, lulav and esrog, in one’s own backyard.

“You shall take on the first day a beautiful fruit, a date palm branch, twigs of a woven tree and river willows...” (Lev. 23:40)

A young married student had searched for several hours to find a beautiful esrog to fulfill the mitzvah. He brought it to Rav Sholom Eisen, a renowned expert in Jerusalem, for his approval. After several minutes, Rav Eisen informed the young man it was not for him.

The young man was crestfallen, as it seemed to be a flawless esrog. He asked what the problem was.

Rav Eisen answered, "This esrog is so beautiful it must cost a fortune. I know you don’t earn much money. It is more important that you buy your wife something nice for Yom Tov, which is a Torah obligation, than it is to buy such a beautiful esrog, which is only to beautify the mitzvah."

Did You Know...

When the first day of Yom Tov falls on Shabbos, one must wait until after nightfall to light the second night’s candles. Even then, one must first say Baruch Hamavdil bein kodesh l’kodesh, distinguishing between the sanctity of Shabbos and that of Yom Tov.

The candlesticks may be cleaned out with a knife from the first day’s wax, before placing the new candles in them. However, the bottoms of the candles may not be melted in order for them to fit better.

When Havdala is recited during the second night’s Kiddush, some authorities permit putting two flames of the Yom Tov candles together for the blessing on the fire. Others, however, say that one should merely gaze at the candles and not hold them together.