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The most halachically important part of the sukka is its s’chach, which produces the shade. One of the important halachot is that the s’chach must produce more shade than it allows sunlight through. The Zohar (Emor 103:1) puts the purpose of this shade of the sukka in perspective as follows: "Whoever is of ‘the root and the trunk’ of Israel shall sit in the sukka under the shade of Hashem."
In Tehillim we find that tzel has a double meaning: not only shade but salvation as well. "He who sits in the covert of the Supreme, in the shadow (b’tzel) of Hashem he lives … for He will save you (yatzilcha) …" (Tehillim 91:1-3). "Hashem will guard you, Hashem is your shade (tzilcha) on your right hand. During the day the sun will not hit you, nor will the moon at night" (ibid. 121:5-6).
If the spiritual is the ultimate protection and cover, we can understand better the Torah’s description of the creation of man. Hashem spoke of making man in His tzelem (image) (Bereishit 1:26-7), and then the Torah relates that He put man in charge of the animal kingdom. It is this tzelem which makes him distinct from other living creatures and gives him a closer connection to Hashem and a more significant life. Physical dangers have less import when stress is placed on spirituality and the soul rather than the body.
This also explains why the first woman is taken from the tzela of Adam (Bereishit 2:21-22). The partnership between man and woman emanates from the tzel – from a spiritual connection between them, and allows both of them to have the protection and closeness of the "shade of Hashem." This is as Chazal teach, "If they merit [a proper spousal relationship], the Divine Presence will be with them." One person who did not understand this properly was Lemech. One of his wives was Tzila, but he used her not to get close to Hashem but for her to always be in his shadow, i.e., for his physical pleasure (Rashi, Bereishit 4:19).
May we always make the most of our divine tzelem and spend as much time in His shade, quantitatively and qualitatively, as possible.
Rabbis in Midrash
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
