Parshas Re'eh
Absolute Security
Rabbi Pinchas Avruch
Moshe's review of the three pilgrimage festivals offers a new perspective on
Succos, the "Feast of the Tabernacle" which celebrates the Divine protection
we enjoyed while we dwelled in Succah booths during our forty year trek
through the wilderness. "A festival of Succos you shall make for
yourself...You shall rejoice on your festival ...A seven day period shall
you celebrate to Hashem your G-d in the place that Hashem your G-d will
choose, for Hashem will have blessed you in all your crops and in all your
handiwork, and you will be completely joyous." (Devarim/ Deuteronomy
16:13-15) The two primary mitzvos (Divine commandments) of Succos - living
in the Succah booth and waving "the four species" (branches of date palm,
willow and myrtle with a citron) - are nowhere to be found in this
narrative. Why is the Torah preoccupied with joy at the time of the harvest,
while it is ignoring the most essential mitzvos of Succos?
Michtav Me'Eliyahu (collected writings and discourses of Rabbi Eliyahu
Dessler (1891-1954) of London and B'nai Brak, one of the outstanding
personalities and thinkers of the Mussar movement) explains that the
ingathering of produce at the time of this festival creates a false sense of
satisfaction that one's livelihood for the year is certain. But Shlomo
HaMelech (King Solomon) counseled us in Mishlei (Proverbs) "Give me neither
poverty nor wealth, but allot me my daily bread. Lest I be sated and deny
[You] and say, 'Who is Hashem?'..." (30:8-9). Therefore, the Torah in an
earlier discussion of the festival of Succos instructed us "You shall dwell
in Succah booths for a seven day period," (Vayikra/Leviticus 23:42) to
inculcate the appreciation that our protection does not come from the roof
above our heads; rather, it is Hashem's shelter that safeguards us. Indeed,
we are never truly sated until our hearts release our dependence on physical
pursuits.
Therefore, continues Rabbi Dessler, the Torah charges us, "You shall
celebrate on your festival," - our celebration should be a spiritual
connection with our Guardian. In as much as we do not marry during the
festival, for the Talmud (Tractate Moed Katan 8b) expounds, "'You shall
celebrate on your FESTIVAL'...and not because of your bride," how much more
so that we should not celebrate because of material gains and confidence in
them. Ultimately, concludes Rabbi Dessler, this spiritual celebration is
most profoundly realized with the aforementioned release of our dependence
on physical pursuits, when our feeling of wholeness and satiation from our
connection to Hashem supplants that sense we got from our wealth.
"A festival of Succos you shall make for yourself...You shall rejoice on
your festival ...A seven day period shall you celebrate to Hashem your
G-d..." When we "make for [our]selves" a Succah and "celebrate to Hashem"
for the sanctuary His supervision - not our actions or possessions -
provides, then our festival will be a true source for rejoicing.
Have a good Shabbos!
Please forward your questions for Rabbi Avruch to
RabbiAvruch@MilwaukeeKollel.org
Kol HaKollel is a publication of the Milwaukee Kollel Center for Jewish
Studies
5007 West Keefe Avenue; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; 414-447-7999
Copyright © 2002 by Rabbi Pinchas Avruch and Project Genesis, Inc.
Kol HaKollel is a publication of the Milwaukee Kollel Center for Jewish
Studies 5007 West Keefe Avenue; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; 414-447-7999
