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Beit Midrash
- Shabbat and Holidays
- Sukkot
- The Essence of Sukkot
Well, like most Jewish practices, there is a dispute! Rabbi Akiva, following the pasuk in Parshat Emor, says it is to remind the generations that Hashem placed us in Sukkot as He took us on our journey from Egypt to Israel. In this way, we are climbing into our time machine and "re-living" history, much as we do when we eat Matzot, or light the Chanukiya. It is a "you are there!" experience.
Rabbi Eliezer - perhaps because there are so many reference in the Torah to our dwelling in tents in the desert - offers a different idea. He says that these booths are meant to represent the Clouds of Glory that surrounded us as we traveled. These were more than just clouds; they were a kind of force-field that stopped any attacks upon us, that flattened mountains in our way and that even killed any dangerous snakes or scorpions in our path.
Rabbi Eliezer's opinion is so very meaningful this year of Corona. We human beings believe that we can build walls around us that guard and protect us from any danger - "a man's home is his castle," we say, implying that we are invulnerable behind these walls. But the pandemic brings home the harsh reality that we are quite vulnerable, indeed, and that the tiniest microbe can attack and harm us no matter how grand our home may be. It is only through Hashem safeguarding us that we survive, and flourish.
And so the humility that emerges from our little Sukka puts us "in our place" and prevents us from being too arrogant or self-assured of our own mortal powers.
And yet, as I helped my intrepid son build our Sukka, another thought occurred to me. WE are creating this Sukka! That is, while the command comes from the Torah, if we ourselves did not put up the walls and cover the roof, there would be no Sukka at all. This tells me that even as I acknowledge my allegiance to Hashem and His commandments, I affirm my own role in this ritual, and my own place in the universe. I am, in a very real way, Hashem's (junior) partner.
What this says to us, particularly regarding this Mitzva of Sukka, is that not only do we look to Hashem to watch over us, we need to also watch over ourselves! Gathering in groups for any reason - including to study Torah or to pray - or not wearing a mask in public is tantamount to saying to G-d: "We don't need Your help, we'll take our chances with our health and roll the dice as to whether we live or die."
Is that really the message we want to send?!
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
Jewish Laws and Thoughts Shul “etiquette:” can we honor Hashem while respecting our fellow congregants?
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.
