The Festival of Sukkot just got brighter with the impending return of our hostages.
As I scour the news it jumps out at me that everyone has an opinion. Good deal?
Bad deal? Israel caved? Brilliantly negotiated? So many self-proclaimed analysts….
Which is it?
I’m far from an expert but what jumps out at me is the inherent connection between Sukkot and the role of the Jewish nation amidst the other nations of the world.
This role was reflected in Temple times specifically on Sukkot by the number of sacrifices brought up in the Temple totaling “seventy” a number that represents the totality of “the nations of the world”. (More on this)
That’s right, in the Temple / Beit Hamikdash, the one(s) that stood on Temple Mount — the service consisted of praying and including all the nations of the world — for their own good and blessing.
Ordinarily, one would assume, this should inspire the nations to pray for the Temple’s longevity. Yet the oldest ailment out there — “anti” semitism blinded the 70 nations-- and the glorious edifices — the very edifices that brought blessing to the entire world including the “anti”s —were destroyed.
It’s a repetitive pattern to be sure. Yet more importantly the repetitive pattern is G-d’s protection of the Eternal Nation of Israel. The very message of the Sukkah which represents the love and embrace of Hashem of the Jewish nation. Despite the temporal nature of a Sukkah we are reminded of our ancestor’s travel from Egypt to Israel — traversing the desert existence by the benevolence of G-d.
Yes, it’s all about Hashem’s protection. No, it’s not about our physical might. Nor about our acumen or Talmudical sharpened minds. Sukkoth reinforces the truth. The love. The vulnerability. The protection. The future!
Yet to experience this one needs to exit their home, their comfort level and enter the Sukkah. One needs to leave the realm of analyst and become a protagonist.
In addition, the other Mitzvah of Sukkot, the shaking of the Lulav and Etrog — the symbol of strength and victory— reinforces the Divine nature of the Jew and the Divinely ordained role. (More here)
To the point, from analyst to protagonist -- take a moment to shake the lulav and Etrog (drop me a line aside for Shabbat I'll gladly meet you anywhere in Westport), take a moment to enter a Sukkah and make a blessing. Ultimately, you'll walk out joyously impenetrable as you are surrounded by G-d's love and the reinforced truth that ":all is mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains" ( Mark Twain)
With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom & Chag Sameach,