Succos All Year! – Parshas Chayei Sarah 5771
- Unleashing the Power – Parshas Bereishis 5771
- Will The Real Noach Please Rise – Parshas Noach 5771
- Personal Emunah – Parshas Lech Lecha 5771
- Unique Characters – Parshas Vayeira 5771
- Succos All Year! – Parshas Chayei Sarah 5771
- Internal View – Parshas Toldos 5771
- Close Ties – Parshas Vayeitzei 5771
- Unnerving Dedication – Parshas Vayishlach 5771
- Effort and Wisdom – Parshas Vayeishev 5771
- Yosef HaTzaddik and Chanukah – Parshas Mikeitz and Chanukah 5771
- Tears of Joy – Parshas Vayigash 5771
- Yaakov and Yisrael – Parshas Vayechi 5771
- Gratitude and Exodus – Parshas Shemos 5771
- Raising to Greatness – Parshas Va’eira 5771
- Lasting Integrity – Parshas Bo 5771
- Dedicated Actions – Parshas Beshalach 5771
- Working Together – Parshas Yisro 5771
- Holy Laws – Parshas Mishpatim 5771
- A Meaningful Relationship – Parshas Terumah 5771
- Daily Reminders – Parshas Tetzaveh 5771
- Shabbos Kodesh – Parshas Ki Sisa 5771
- Team Effort – Parshas Vayakhel 5771
- Chazak Chazak V’NisChazaik! – Parshas Pekudei 5771
- Middos Development – Parshas Vayikra 5771
- Most Befitting – Parshas Tzav and Purim 5771
- Golden Silence – Parshas Shemini 5771
- Torah Guidance – Parshas Tazria 5771
- Peace and Respect – Parshas Metzora 5771
- The Birth of a Nation – Pesach 5771
- Love and Respect – Parshas Kedoshim 5771
- Preparation – Parshas Emor 5771
- Close to Hashem – Parshas Behar 5771
- The Value of Life – Parshas Bechukosai 5771
- Not Just A Statistic – Parshas Bamidbar 5771
- Proper Berachos – Parshas Nasso 5771
- How to Acquire Torah – Shavuos and Parshas Beha’aloscha 5771
- Positive Outlook – Parshas Shelach 5771
- Family Ties – Parshas Korach 5771
- Education 101 – Parshas Chukas 5771
- A Beautiful Safe Haven – Parshas Balak 5771
- Spiritual Sensitivity – Parshas Pinchas 5771
The Vilna Goan (1720- 1797) was asked where Succos is hinted to in this week’s Parsha. He replied by quoting the verse, “וה’ ברך את אברהם בכל, Hashem blessed Avraham with everything.” The three letters ofבכל hint to the first letters of three descriptions given in the Torah to Succos (ב’סוכות תשבו שבעת ימים, כ’ל האזרח בישראל ישבו בסוכות, ל’מען ידעו דורותיכם.) This is a famous “vort,” but what does it mean and why does it connect to Avraham?
The greatness of Succos is expressed in the Gemara Succah (21b) itself! “Even the trivial chat of Torah scholars deserves great study.” What is this all about? The Torah is filled with all of the knowledge of the entire universe. There is nothing that is not hinted to in the Torah. The Rabbis who have dedicated their lives to Torah study are heavily saturated with its wisdom and beauty. Hence, it permeates their being. People said about Rabbi Chatzkal Levenstein zt”l that if one were to look into his veins, one would see the flow of Emunah, this was his essence and life. The light comments and chatter of Torah scholars are based on their great wealth of Torah knowledge.
Torah is not meant to simply be studied, it was given to us to be carried out and applied to life. Thus, when a Torah scholar spoke, his words were seen as a reflection of his great Torah background and were deserving of fine attention.
The theme of Succos is to keep one’s inspiration alive. After going through the awe-inspiring days of Elul, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Hashem wanted us to have a Yom Tov that would bring everything together. Succos takes our everyday eating and sleeping and shows how we can sanctify them! Succos brings meaning and application to our Torah knowledge. Just as a Succah protects from the elements, so too, it is intended to protect our spirituality from being lost. We apply the lesson of taking actions to ensure our continued inspiration at all times during life.
Avraham Aveinu started a religious revolution. He invited guests to his home and engaged them in talk about chessed and Hashem. They left uplifted and inspired. Avraham and Sarah’s message was one: make it last; keep it going. Indeed, the Midrash (Bereishis Rabbah 48:10) states that precisely because Avraham sat his guests in the shade, we merited the Mitzvah of sitting in the shade of the Succah! The theme is that of continuing the inspiration. The Vilna Goan wished to tie Succos to the entire year and to Avraham. It is most apropos that the Vilna Goan, who dedicated his life to finding meaning and spirituality in every action, passed away on a day no other than Succos (19 Tishrei – October 9, 1797). The lesson is that we can make all aspects of our lives holy and meaningful.
Categories: Parshas Chayei Sarah Holiness, Succos, Vilna Goan