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Oct. 6, 2006
How G-d’s miracles saved us
Sukkot is a reminder to welcome all to celebrate our good fortune.
DVORA WAYSMAN
Sukkot is a multi-purpose festival, for there are many strands
coming together for the central theme. One of them centres on three
miracles.
After the Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt, they wandered
in the Sinai desert for 40 years. It was a terrifying place –
parched and dry, full of snakes and scorpions. It is hard to envisage
surviving there for a week, let alone for 40 years.
The three miracles G-d provided were to the benefit of Moses, Aaron
and Miriam. The first was a cloud that travelled with the Israelites
every day. It covered their heads as protection against the burning
sun.
The second miracle was the manna that came down from heaven. It
appeared mysteriously on the ground each morning, just waiting to
be collected. On Fridays, there would be a double portion that also
provided the food for Shabbat.
The third miracle was a life-saving well. It looked like a rock
and was about the size of a beehive. Sweet water shot high in the
air from it, just like a geyser. It rolled up the mountains and
down in the valleys with the people. When they encamped, it rested
and it also watered the surrounding desert.
Another strand of the Sukkot story, in addition to dwelling in booths
as we are commanded, concerns rejoicing with a lulav. This comprises
a beautiful fruit, leafy branches and willow branches. (Leviticus
23:40) These are known as the arba’ah minim – the
four species.
The lulav is a young branch from a date palm, picked while
the leaves are tightly furled against the spine. When you shake
it, there is a rustling sound.
The etrog – the fragrant fruit – is a citron that
resembles a lemon, with the same bright, yellow textured skin. Three
myrtle twigs and two willow branches are attached to the lulav with
a braided palm leaf. We hold them together – the lulav in the
right hand and the etrog in the left – and wave the lulav after
reciting a blessing:
"Blessed are you, O Lord our G-d, Ruler of the Universe, who
makes us holy with mitzvot and commands us to wave the lulav."
These are all symbols. It is said that the four species represent
four kinds of Jews. The fragrant etrog stands for those who study
Torah and do good deeds. The palm, which has no smell, is likened
to those who study but do not act. The scented myrtle, without taste,
is like those who act but do not study Torah. The humble willow,
lacking both taste and fragrance, represents those who neither study
nor do good deeds.
May we all rejoice in our suk- kah, and remember the words of Rabbi
Chaim Halberstamm of Zanz: "There is no finer way to decorate
a sukkah than seeing to it that the poor do not go hungry."
Dvora Waysman is an Australian-born writer living in Jerusalem.
She is the author of nine books, including Woman of Jerusalem,
The Pomegranate Pendant and Esther: A Jerusalem Love Story.
She can be contacted at ways@netvision.net.il.
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