Shabbat Chol HaMoed Sukkot

Chol HaMoed Sukkot
Tishrei 17, 5772 ~ October 15, 2011
by Shoshannah Chana Somerville

Among my dearest memories is the one that relates to a very small Succah, that was probably not intended for “dwelling,” as only about 5-8 people could just stand inside of it. It was one that was in the courtyard of Temple Emanu-El in SF. One Sunday each year, I would see it, go into the building so that everyone would think that I was going to my Sunday school class, but then, I would dodge out another door and make a beeline for the succah. For a few years, there were pomegranates and some other fruit that hung from the schach; but then in other years, there were only palm branches or those from a Eucalyptus tree. It did not matter because being inside of that structure was so wondrous to me – like a secret palace. I absolutely loved it!

From Psalm 125, line 2:

As the mountains surround Yerushalayim, so HaShem encircles and embraces His people. (My translation.)

The Succah, which has been likened to a Mikvah, has this same all-encompassing feeling for me. (Well, you do not have to emerge as rapidly from a Succah as from a Mikvah, since you can dwell for 8 days instead of for a few minutes.) We dwell in the Succah and there is an awesome sense of well-being, partly because we are dwelling within the Mitzvah, something that is tremendously powerful. It may also be because there is such a magnitude of difference between Rosh HaShannah/Yom HaKippur and Succot.

According to the Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson in Likutei Sichot, G-d's presence – or rather, His “Divine Service” - is hidden during the first two holidays when we pray with intensity for Rachmones. But during the holiday of Succot, G-d's presence is revealed; and His Rachmones is with us. Without getting into the depth and mystical meaning of this statement, it is more easily said that the Shechinah makes Her presence felt through the schach of each and every succah. As we sit there, we are amazed by this aspect of existence.

There is a sense of well-being and a joy in the kindness and love that we experience. We are at one!

With Shechinah present in the succah, we cannot just sit and merely observe this awesome presence. We are also commanded to reach out and attach ourselves to HaShem in another way; and so we shake the lulav to make Him happy with us. How does this work?

Consider that the 4 species represent the unity of the Jewish people. The lulav (palm branch)

is the tallest and its sweet fruit indicates Jews whose level of Torah study is so high, but they do not perform good deeds. The fragrant hadass (myrtle branch) represents Jewish people who possesses a high level of Mitzvot and good deeds, but who do not delve into Torah. The arava (willow) symbolizes Jews who do not engage in either Torah or Mitzvot. The fragrant and tasty etrog stands for those of us who delve into Torah and Mitzvot at the highest level. The three branches are bound to each other and shaken, and the etrog is held and moved. Together, their being shaken in 4 directions and up and down, shows the bond between His people. This oneness makes G-d happy.

The Book of Kohelet (Ecclesiastes), which is usually read on Shabbat Chol HaMoed Succot, is an exploration into every direction of physical existence plus a probe into the heart and practices of being a Jewish person. All is found to be flimsily in vain except “fear[ing] G-d and keep[ing] His commandments...”

The appropriateness of reading Kohelet is easily related to Succot. One way is by thinking of the flimsiness and fragility of the succah structure. Yet, as we are enveloped in the awesome Mitzvah of dwelling in the succah, the everlasting existence of HaShem is so close and evident that the strength of our trust in Him is sturdy; and we are well on our way into a year of total sweetness.

As an aside, I want to tell you about being at BJC during the 1989 earthquake. When the quake happened, my 4^th and 5^th grade class dove under the 4 tables that were together. I thought I was Mother Goose with her wings extended to protect my huddled and frightened students; and their fear increased with the crashing of the dining room ceiling above us. Later, we learned of the collapse of the freeway connection from the bridge to Highway 880 and we saw many power lines that were down. However, upon inspection of the succah, which was in the children's playground, we were astonished to see that it had withstood any damage. It was not a “temporary” structure, after all.

Moadim L'Simcha to everyone in this terrific community.