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Dear Friends, It is my sincere hope that the Torah found in this virtual רפס may serve to enhance your בוט םוי (holiday) and your דומיל (study). We have designed this project not only for the individual, studying alone, but perhaps even more for a אתורבח (a pair studying together) that wish to work through the study matter together, or a group engaged in facilitated study. With this material, we invite you to join our Beit Midrash, wherever you may be, הרות לידגהל הרידאהלו (to increase and enjoy the splendor of Torah) and to engage in discussing issues that touch on a most contemporary matter, and are rooted in the timeless arguments of our great sages from throughout the generations. Chag Sameiach, Rabbi Kenneth Brander The David Mitzner Dean Yeshiva University Center for the Jewish Future 4 YESHIVA UNIVERSITY • SUKKOT TO-GO • TISHREI 5771
Yom Kippur and Sukkos: Twin Symbols of Jewish Unity 5 YESHIVA UNIVERSITY • SUKKOT TO-GO • TISHREI 5771 Rabbi Elchanan Adler Rosh Yeshiva, RIETS Motifs of Unity in Sukkos One of the central motifs of Sukkos is Jewish unity. The midrash depicts the arba’ah minim as representative of different categories of Jews. The esrog, which has a good taste along with a pleasant aroma, symbolizes the Jew who is brimming with Torah and maasim tovim [good deeds]. The lulav, which has a taste but no smell, typifies the Jew who is knowledgeable in Torah but deficient in maasim tovim. The hadas, which has a sweet aroma but lacks taste, corresponds to the Jew who excels in good deeds but is bereft of Torah knowledge. Lastly, the arava, which possesses neither taste nor smell, personifies the Jew who lacks both Torah and maasim tovim. Based on this typology, the midrash concludes: Said Hakadosh Baruch Hu: to destroy them is impossible; rather, let them come together as one group and they will atone for one another Vayikra Rabba 30:12 ושעי אלא רשפא יא םדבאל אוה ךורב שודקה רמא ולא לע ולא ןירפכמ ןהו תחא הדוגא ןלוכ בי: ל הבר ארקיו The connection between Sukkos and Jewish unity is also alluded to in a Talmudic comment on the verse “Kol ha’ezrach be’Yisrael yeishvu ba’Sukkos” – “every native in Israel shall dwell in booths” (Vayikra 23:42). Chazal infer from the language of the verse that one sukkah theoretically suffices for all of Israel to discharge their individual obligations: This teaches that all Israel is worthy of dwelling in one sukkah Sukkah 27b תחא הכוסב בשיל םיואר לארשי לכש דמלמ : זכ הכוס While the halachic significance of this derivation is that one may dwell in a Sukkah that is owned by another, the hashkafic import of “all of Israel is worthy of dwelling in one Sukkah” points to a link between Sukkos and collective Jewish identity. Why does the theme of achdus figure so prominently in the holiday of Sukkos? Motifs of Unity in Yom Kippur The answer may lie in the nature of the relationship between Sukkos and Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur, like Sukkos, accentuates the theme of achdus. While to solicit forgiveness from someone we have wronged is desirable all year long, there is a specific mitzvah to do so on erev Yom Kippur, as codified in Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 606). Seemingly, the reason for
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Page 7 and 8: the verse concludes with an allusio
Page 9 and 10: The sefer Beer Moshe, and other Has
Page 11 and 12: It is this issue that lies at the h
Page 13 and 14: himself in the second mitzvah will
Page 15 and 16: As the Rav zt”l pointed out, when
Page 17 and 18: hope. This letter sits on the couns
Page 19 and 20: By the sweat of your brow you shall
Page 21 and 22: These ideals are found in Mishneh T
Page 23 and 24: One of the themes of Yom Kippur is
Page 25 and 26: himself through abstention from win
Page 27 and 28: excitement about the upcoming holid
Page 29 and 30: and relationship with God as a whol
Page 31 and 32: ecause when he was still living in
Page 33 and 34: ‘...and sent an angel, and brough
Page 35 and 36: people, the obstacles of human obst
Page 37 and 38: the "Clouds of Glory," with which G
Page 39 and 40: The Season of Holidays and the Dedi
Page 41 and 42: not given you rest on every side? F
Page 43 and 44: If one may bring a peace offering o
Page 45 and 46: Har Sinai)..." Ramban Shemot 25:2 4
Page 47 and 48: The Beauty and the Least Rabbi Mosh
Page 49 and 50: nature of the mitzvah. The Gemara 6
Page 51 and 52: triumph more effectively. 68 Effect
Page 53 and 54: Gemara 73 derives laws governing se
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Sukkot Insights from Members of the
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that Hashem finds an area in this w
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Shabbos, 78 he should eat his meal
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Sukkot to the days of awe, the Tora
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