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There is a section of our leyning for Shabbos Chol HaMoed Succot, immediately following Hashem’s pronouncement of The Thirteen Attributes, which can be seen as directly connected to our Haftorah;
He said, ‘Behold, I seal a covenant before your entire nation I will make distinctions such as have never been created in the entire world and among the nations; and the entire people among whom you are will see the work of Hashem — which is awesome — that I am about to do with you.’ (Sefer Shemot, Perek 34, posuk 10)
We learn yet again of Hashem’s covenant with the Jews which we merited when the nations could not abandon their ways, as best exemplified by the oft-repeated Succot story of how Hashem offered the nations the simple Mitzvah of sitting in Succot upon their pleadings that they are worthy of merit.
And so, everyone rushed to build their Succah and to sit in it. But Hashem brought heat of the sun and high temperature conditions and the inhabitants became uncomfortable. They opted to leave the Succah, disdainfully kicking the door as they left.
Our Haftorah, from Sefer Yecheskel, speaks of a great earthquake, the toppling of mountains, cliffs and walls. It speaks of confusing and confounding the forces of Gog MaGog such that soldiers and armies sent in conquest of Jerusalem will instead “panic and turn against one and other.” These armies will fall victim to plagues (Makos) relating to those Hashem brought upon the Mitzriyim.
By prevailing over the nations, thus will there be a sanctification of Hashem’s Name, the renewal of Israel’s faith and that all nations will recognize Hashem’s omnipotence. (Artscroll Machzor for Succot, Commentary pages 544-545)
If only the entire B’nai Yisrael would contemplate and internalize the fundamental Jewish lesson of Unity, love for one’s Jewish Brethren, as for themselves and Kiddush Hashem. If only the B’nai Yisrael were unified in confronting and prevailing over, with Hashem’s help, a governance of self-indulgence in corrupt self-centured luxury, agendized disdain for Torah and for Jewish heritage as well as inherent political corruption and self-aggrandizement, then hopefully we will all bring about a speedy Geulah Shlaima rather than painful pangs of Milchama Gog MaGog.
Hopefully, we will emerge from Succot with a renewed understanding of why there is an Eretz Yisrael and why they, we are all here.
May we, the B’nai Yisrael be zocha that our brethren — the refugee families from Gush Katif be permanently settled and be made totally whole, that our dear brother Jonathan Pollard, captive Gilad Shalit and the other MIAs be liberated alive returned to us in ways befitting Al Kiddush Hashem and that we fulfill Hashem’s blueprint of B’nai 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; “Yom Hashem V’Kol HaGoyim”, the Ultimate Redemption, bim hay v’yameinu — speedily, in our time”, — Achshav, Chik Chuk, Miyad, Etmol!!!
L’Shana Tova, Good Shabbos and Mo’edim B’Simcha — Chaggim UzManim V’Sassoon! — may all who read this be inscribed and sealed for a healthy, happy and prosperous 5769 and every year thereafter to at least 120!!
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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.
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