HAPPY SUKKOT

           Sukkot  Chol Hamoed

This week the start of the festive holiday of Sukot, commemorating
the huts our ancestors lived in during their stay in the desert, on
their way to the land of Israel.  We are obligated to eat all our
meals in the Sukah and even sleep in the Sukah, if possible.  We are
also required to own a lulav (palm branch) and etrog (citron) along
with hadas (myrtle) and arav (willow) and shake them in unison every
morning during our prayers.   The etrog is endowed with flavor and
aroma; the lulav and hadas have either flavor or aroma; the hadas has
neither.  Chazal (our Rabbis) tell us that the four varieties parallel
the different types of Jews with the qualities and shortcomings.
Flavor and aroma would be symbolic of learning and good deeds.  There are Jews comparable to the etrog, they are scholars who learn and teach.  Other Jews have learning they may be scholars of considerable note, they an intellectual understanding of Torah, but in remains only with them in their minds alone.  Then there are those of little learning but active in attending synagogue.  The Torah and learning is a mystery to them and they are preoccupied with mundane living to paymuch heed to Torah study and tradition. 

The saddest is the arava-Jew. He has neither learning nor deeds to boast about.  He seems to be the unaffiliated Jew getting nothing from Judaism and giving nothing to Judaism.  However, it is noteworthy that before reciting the blessing over the four plants, they must be united, actually held together, touching.  If one is missing, even the humble arava, then the others are utterly useless.  Every Jew, regardless of his/her measurable virtues, is indispensable to Jewry.  The best are no more the totality of Israel than are the lowliest.  The strength of Israel lies in its unity, in the ability and readiness of all four parts to work
together.  We are living in times when this is evident to anyone who
is open to truth.  Let us unite as one during this holiday and
strengthen each other to keep our traditions strong.