Sukkos
Moving Fast Into The Garden
The Midrash relates that bringing together the “arba’ah minim” - four
species on Succos, represents the notion that all of Bnei Yisroel are one
and should be viewed as such regardless of their level of commitment to
Judaism. The “esrog” - citron has both a taste and a fragrance, thus
representing those amongst Bnei Yisroel who possess Torah knowledge and
good deeds. The “lulav” - palmbranch, which lacks fragrance but has a
taste contained in the dates produced by the palm tree, depicts those Jews
who possess Torah knowledge but lack good deeds. The “hadas” - myrtle
branch possesses a fragrance but lacks a taste, reflecting those Jews who
practice good deeds but do not engage in the study of Torah.The “aravah” -
willow branch has neither a taste nor a fragrance, representing those
amongst Bnei Yisroel who have no Torah knowledge and do not engage in good
deeds.
We do not use the dates produced by the palm in the performance of the
mitzva, rather the branch of the tree, which is tasteless. Therefore, why
is the lulav branch considered to have a taste?
Citing the Maharil, the Ramah teaches that we should begin building a
Succah as soon as Yom Kippur concludes, thereby moving immediately from the
fulfillment of one mitzva to the fulfillment of another.Why must we move
immediately to the mitzva of Succah rather than charity, Torah study, or
any other mitzva?
The Talmud derives the laws pertaining to the construct of the Succah from
the clouds which arose from the Garden of Eden.What is the connection
between the Garden of Eden and the Succah? The Talmud relates that when
Bnei Yisroel received the Torah on Shavuos, they reached the level of Adam
prior to the sin in the Garden of Eden. However, when they committed the
sin of the Golden Calf, Bnei Yisroel returned to the level of Adam after
he was banished from the Garden for having eaten from the Tree of
Knowledge. On Yom Kippur Bnei Yisroel received atonement for the sin of
the Golden Calf, and they should have gone into Eretz Yisroel, built the
Beis Hamikdash, and once again attained that special closeness with
Hashem. However, instead they committed the sin of the spies which
resulted in the death of that entire generation.
Succos represents the time period when, after having received atonement on
Yom Kippur, we enter the Garden of Eden, i.e. the Succah. This is the
reason why the construct and decor of the Succah, as well as the four
species which we are commanded to take in it are made to resemble a
garden. Immediately after Yom Kippur we are preoccupied with building the
Succah, displaying our desire to attain this elevated level of closeness
with Hashem by joining him in the Garden of Eden.
The Midrash teaches that one of the characteristics of the Garden of
Eden was that the bark of the fruit trees tasted of the fruit.5 Taking the
branch of the palm tree to represent the taste of the dates is reflective
of the notion that we are recreating our existence in the Garden of Eden.
This is the reason for the custom to bless the lulav in a Sukkah. The
lulav in the Garden of Eden has the required symbolism.
