Shalom Friends;
Our Succot vort is being sponsored by Haim and Danit Kalb and family of Ramat Beit Shemesh Lilui Nishmas for Haim’s Dad, Mordechai Yosef ben R’ Efraim, his Mother, Feigye bat R’ Mordechai and for the Yahrtzeits of Haim’s Grandfathers R’ Efraim ben R’ Mordechai and Mordechai ben David as well as for the Yahrtzeit of Danit’s Father Avraham Avigdor ben Aba Yehuda and for the safety of the Chayalim, as well as for the good health and security of kol Am Yisrael. . To the Kalb family, many thanks for your sponsorship and for your continued kindnesses.
You can celebrate a Simcha — a birth, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, a Chassuna or other Simcha event in your life, or commemorate a Yahrtzeit of a loved one, or for whatever other reason by sponsoring a Parshat HaShavua.
Please forward to your relatives and friends and encourage them to sponsor a Parshat HaShavua. And please be in contact with me with any questions, or for further details.
Best Regards,
Moshe Burt
olehchadash@yahoo.com
Subscribe to the Israel and the Sin of Expulsion blog, to ask questions or to sponsor a Parsha Vort at: olehchadash@yahoo.com
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Having emerged from Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, hopefully all have been inscribed and sealed for a happy, healthy, successful and meaningful year and years ahead, we now find ourselves, after assembling our Succahs and acquiring our Arba Minim (Lulav, Hadassim, Aravot and Etrog), celebrating Succot.
And we all know who the first Ushpizin is, in this author’s parody of that iconic Rowan and Martin’s “Laugh-In” line:
“And now, the man without whom the Jews wouldn’t be the Jews without the Jew — Avraham Aveinu!”
The Manchester Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Yehudah Zev Segal, z”l wrote discussing Succot in his Sefer, “Inspiration and Insight,” Volume ll (pages 97 – 99) :
In the Shemonah Esrei of Yom Tov, we say, “You, Hashem, Keilokim, have lovingly given us appointed times for gladness, festivals and seasons for joy…” Every Yom Tov is a time for Simcha. However, only Succot is called Z’man Simchateinu, the season of our gladness. The source of the appellation is Sefer Devarim, Perek 16, posuk 14:
“You shall make the festival of Succot for a seven-day period when you gather in from your threshing floor and from your wine cellar. You shall rejoice on your festival — you, your son, your daughter, your slave, your maidservant, the Levite, the proselyte, the orphan, and the widow who are in your cities.” [Sefer Devarim, Perek 16, posukim 13 – 14 as rendered to English in the Artscroll Stone Edition Chumash]
The term Simcha is used specifically in connection with Succot… Why…. is Simcha associated with Succot more than with Pesach or Shavuot?
[Following the Sin of the Egel Zahav], Moshe Rabbeinu davened on behalf of his people and they were granted a reprieve. On the Tenth of Tishrei [the date of Yom Kippur], Moshe descended with the second Luchos, and the next day informed the people that they were to begin preparations for the construction of the Mishkan.
The fact that Hashem would manifest His Presence upon the Mishkan proved that Am Yisrael had been forgiven. This awareness revitalized their spirit and they approached their Divine service with renewed vigor. [Rabbi Segal refers to “Inspiration and Insight,” Volume 1 — Discourse to Parshat Tetzaveh]
The joy of Succot can be explained in a similar sense. The season of soul-searching and introspection which commences with Rosh Chodesh Elul becomes more intense with the advent of Rosh Hashana and reaches its climax with Yom Kippur when we enumerate our sins in confession upon confession and beg forgiveness.
Yom Tov is a time of special closeness between Hashem and His people; this closeness is the source of joy that permeates the Yom Tov experience. The Mitzvah of Succah symbolizes this closeness in a very unique way. The Gemura states that the Succah represents the Anei HaKavod [the Clouds of Glory], through which Hashem’a Presence was manifest during the Jews’ sojourn in the Wilderness and which sheltered them from harm. [Rabbi Segal cites The Vilna Gaon regarding Shir HaShuirim 1:2 which showed how the very date on which Succot commences is related to the Cloouds of Glory]. Succot is the season of our gladness because its arrival revives our broken spirit and infuses us with joy, both because it is Yom Tov and because its primary Mitzvah [Rabbi Segal notes on the word “primary” that it is in the sense that the Succah becomes one’s dwelling throughout the festival] represents the special bond that exists between HaKadosh Baruch Hu and Klal Yisrael.
In truth, the completion of the repentance process that begins in Elul and concludes with Yom Kippur is also cause for joy. Ramah states at the close of the laws of Yom Kippur [Rabbi Segal citing Yom Kippur 624:5], “We ear and are joyous on the night in which Yom Kippur ends, for it partakes somewhat of the quality of Yom Tov.” The source for this law is a Midrash [Rabbi Segal indicates that it is cited by the Tur]. Upon the conclusion of Yom Kuppur, a Bas Kol [Heavenly Voice] is heard declaring, “Go, eat your bread in joy and drink your wine with a good heart, for your deeds have already found favor with Hashem!” [Rabbi Segal citing Kohelet 9:7]
As we are joyful that, in our repentance and Teshuvah, we remain Hashem’s people always. We also daven for “salvation,” for redemption, and for our safety and welfare in the coming year.
Chabad.org discusses the Hoshanot:
Hoshanot (derived from the words hosha na — “bring us salvation, please”) The special prayers recited each day of Succot while holding the lulav and etrog. The willow branches customarily used to beat the ground on the seventh day of Succot, Hoshana Rabah.
How did these unique customs develop?
In the times of the Beit Hamikdash, in addition to the mitzvah of dwelling in a succah and taking the Arba Minim each day of Sukkot, the Kohanim would “place willow branches alongside the altar, with the heads of the willow branches bent over the altar” to add joy to the holiday.[Chabad.org citing Levush 660:2] The Kohanim would then sound the shofar, circle the altar once, and say, “Ana Hashem hoshiah na. Anah Hashem hatzlichah na — “Please, Hashem, bring us salvation. Please, Hashem, bring us success.” [Chabad.org notes: According to the opinion of Rabbi Yehudah, they would say, “Ani Vahu, bring salvation!”] On the last day of Sukkot, known as Hoshana Rabbah, “the Great Hoshana,” the Kohanim would circle the altar seven times. [Chabad.org citing Mishnah, Succah 4:2] The practice of this ceremony in the actual Temple is part of the oral law that was transmitted by Hashem to Moses at Mount Sinai. [Chabad.org citing Talmud, Succah 44a.]
The later prophets instituted that the Hoshanot ceremony should be observed elsewhere as well, and this is done until this very day. [Chabad.org citing Talmud, ibid. 44a–b] Instead of circling the altar, Jews in Shuls around the world circle a Torah scroll held near the bimah [Chabad.org citing Pri Megadim 660:1. Some have the custom to always place the Torah scroll on the bimah.], for after the destruction of the Temple, the Torah brings atonement as the altar once did. [Chabad.org citing Pri Megadim loc. cit.]
Since each stanza of the prayer is accompanied by the word hoshana, these prayers are referred to as Hoshanot.
The Artscroll Succot Machzor notes two additional points regarding Hoshanot (pages 360 – 361) :
Since the Arba Minim are not taken on Shabbos, there is no circuit around the Shul because, in the Beit Hamikdash, the procession was made only by people holding the Arba Minim. However, the Hoshana tefillah is recited on Shabbos. Although the Aron is opened, no Torah scrolls are removed from it.
A mourner does not join the procession because the Hoshanot are prayers for mercy and he [the mourner] has been the object of Divine judgement.
As we approach the third anniversary of the War of Simchat Torah, now a multi-front war; to disarm and eliminate all aspects of Hamas in Gaza, to do likewise to Hezbollah in Lebanon, and to bring about the utter and complete eradication of the ayatollahs’ and IRGC murderous regime in Iran, eliminating its proxies locally and worldwide, we feel special joy in our closeness to our Creator, as well as davening and yearning for, as dictionary.com defines salvation according to theology: [Noun: Deliverance from the power and penalty of sin; redemption] and the Ge’ula Shleima.
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May we see that our government and military bring about the total and complete, Final and Decisive victory over Hamas, their 7 October so-called “civilians(sic)” collaborators, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the entire Islamic terror cabal in Iran, B’Yad Hashem, and to become Totally self-sufficient as to manufacture of military equipment and aircraft, weaponry, munitions — heavy munitions, as well as showing independence of actions responding to any threat, regardless of so-called “super powers.”
May it be in the coming year, and always thereafter, that our leadership — governing, judiciary and IDF high command echelons, as well as kol Am Yisrael be devoid of false, fraudulent conceptions and ideologies, as well as political agendas, and endeavor to achieve a faithfulness and consistency in our avodah — both V’Ahavtah L’Arecha Kamocha, as One, and in our Service of Hashem, B’Ezrat Hashem
May we see in the coming year, and always thereafter, a government of Israel, military high echelons, judiciary, as well as Kol Am Yisrael secure in it’s foremost service of, and emunah in HaKadosh Borchu, B’Ezrat Hashem! And may we see the restoration of true unity within Am Yisrael. May these words come to fruition B’Ezrat Hashem.
May we, the B’nei Yisrael be zocha that our brethren — the refugee families from Gush Katif be permanently re-settled in Gush Katif, once the IDF, by the Yad Hashem, destructs and eradicates the wild beasts of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, all other terror entities, and if necessary Iran, and that our brethren be made totally whole — be totally restituted for all that was stolen from them, that the thrice expelled families of Amona be restored to their rebuilt homes and the oft-destroyed Yeshiva buildings in Homesh be rebuilt, as well as the buildings of Yishuv Elchanan, all at total government expense. May our Chayalim return from battle unharmed — physically, mentally and spiritually and may all of the remaining hostages brutally taken by the wild beasts of Hamas be liberated and brought home to their families. Baruch Hashem that our dear brother Jonathan Pollard is now in his sixth year at home in Eretz Yisrael and continues in a new chapter in his life. May Esther Yocheved bat Yechiel Avraham have an aliyah in Shemayim and may her spirit and memory continue to lift Jonathan to at least 120 years. Baruch Hashem that another of the MIAs have been liberated and returned to us in ways befitting Al Kiddush Hashem — as with the return in April, 2019, via Russia, of the remains of Zachariah Baumel, the recent recovery of the remains of Tzvi Feldman as well as the recoveries of the remains of Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin from the Gaza War of ten years ago, and now, Yehuda Katz. There is still one MIA to be recovered, Ron Arad. May we have the courage and strength to stand up and physically prevent the possibility of Chas V’Challila any future eviction of Jews from their homes and prevent Chas V’Challila the handing of Jewish land over to anyone, let alone to enemies sworn to Israel’s and Judaism’s destruction and eradication. May we fulfill Hashem’s blueprint of B’nei Yisrael as a Unique people — an Am Segula, not to be reckoned with as with “the nations” and may we be zocha to see the Moshiach, the Ge’ula Shlaima, as Dov Shurin sings; “Ki Karov Yom Hashem Al’Kol HaGoyim”, the Ultimate Redemption, bimhayrah b’yamainu — speedily, in our time”, — Achshav, Chik Chuk, Miyad, Etmol!!!
Good Yom Tov and Good Shabbos! May You, All of My Brothers and Sisters, be Inscribed and Sealed for another Year of Life… Now and always! L’Shana Tova!
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Moshe Burt, an Oleh, is a commentator on news and events in Israel and Founder and Director of The Sefer Torah Recycling Network. He lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh.
Moshe is available for editing of English language documents, articles, manuscripts and more. Please be in contact with him at olehchadash@yahoo.com for your English language needs.
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