Succot is a holiday of ahava (love), of achdut (unity), of kabala (acceptance). The four species of plants/fruits that we use each differ significantly one from the other- in a sense beyond their basic appearance. The palm branch (lulav) has taste but no smell, the myrtle branches (hadasim) have a beautiful smell bit no taste, the citrus fruit (etrog) has both a great smell and taste, and the poor willow branch has neither smell nor any taste.
One idea behind the significance of these four together is that they represent different parts of Am Yisrael- the Jewish people. There are so many streams, so many different ways of thinking within our one tiny nation. I bet most of you are familiar with the old saying: "two Jews, three opinions"- we're so complex, and so diverse within ourselves. Succot is about achdut- learning to lekabel (the verb of "kabala") each other even if we don't really agree with who the other is and what he stands for- and even if we actually hate his ideas. We have to separate the people and the ideas, lekabel and le'ehov (verb of 'ahava') our people as people, because we are one nation, one whole, and only when we stand meuchadim (verb in plural of 'achdut') do we have the strength to stand up to the world.
The 'foursome' of Succot is held together during the special prayers said over them; the mitzva isn't 'kosher' unless all four are included. Even the arava, the seemingly worthless one of the bunch, has its place. Actually, it has the most important role of all- the arava symbolizes the real ahava. Let me elaborate: It's easy for a mother to le'ehov her child who is good, honest, successful, etc. The real test comes, though, when dealing with the 'black sheep' of the family - the child who is rebellious, who doesn't do what he's told, who goes his own way. It's a much bigger challenge to le'kabel and le'ehov that child for the person he is, but she does, for the mere reason that he's her son, despite what he may be doing and the way he may be going. The arava represents those people, the ones that it may be harder to le'ehov but the ones that we're not complete without.
May we all be privileged to see Am Yisrael me'uchadim very soon.
Moadim LeSimcha
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Elisheva Harow is doing her National Service with Livnot VeLihibanot in Tzfat and Jerusalem.
MyGod7HH@Hotmail.com
One idea behind the significance of these four together is that they represent different parts of Am Yisrael- the Jewish people. There are so many streams, so many different ways of thinking within our one tiny nation. I bet most of you are familiar with the old saying: "two Jews, three opinions"- we're so complex, and so diverse within ourselves. Succot is about achdut- learning to lekabel (the verb of "kabala") each other even if we don't really agree with who the other is and what he stands for- and even if we actually hate his ideas. We have to separate the people and the ideas, lekabel and le'ehov (verb of 'ahava') our people as people, because we are one nation, one whole, and only when we stand meuchadim (verb in plural of 'achdut') do we have the strength to stand up to the world.
The 'foursome' of Succot is held together during the special prayers said over them; the mitzva isn't 'kosher' unless all four are included. Even the arava, the seemingly worthless one of the bunch, has its place. Actually, it has the most important role of all- the arava symbolizes the real ahava. Let me elaborate: It's easy for a mother to le'ehov her child who is good, honest, successful, etc. The real test comes, though, when dealing with the 'black sheep' of the family - the child who is rebellious, who doesn't do what he's told, who goes his own way. It's a much bigger challenge to le'kabel and le'ehov that child for the person he is, but she does, for the mere reason that he's her son, despite what he may be doing and the way he may be going. The arava represents those people, the ones that it may be harder to le'ehov but the ones that we're not complete without.
May we all be privileged to see Am Yisrael me'uchadim very soon.
Moadim LeSimcha
-------------------------------
Elisheva Harow is doing her National Service with Livnot VeLihibanot in Tzfat and Jerusalem.
MyGod7HH@Hotmail.com