AMBASSADOR (RET) YORAM ETTINGER EXPLAINS THE JEWISH HOLIDAY SUKKOT October 13-19, 2011
Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger, “Second Thought”
Based on various Jewish Sages
1. The US covenant with the Jewish State dates back to Columbus Day, which
is celebrated around Sukkot (October 8, 2011). According to “Columbus Then
and Now” (Miles Davidson, 1997, p. 268), Columbus arrived to America on
Friday afternoon, October 12, 1492, the 21st day of the Jewish month of
Tishrei, the Jewish year 5235, the 7th day of Sukkot, Hoshaa’na’ Rabah.
Hoshaa’na’ Rabah is considered a day of universal deliverance and miracles.
Hosha’ äåùò)) is the Hebrew word for deliverance, and “Na'” (ðà) – the
Hebrew word for “please” – is equivalent to 51 in Gimatriya. Thus,
Hoshaa’na’ Rabah is observed on the 51st day following Moses’ ascension to
Mt. Sinai.
2. Sukkot is a “practical” holiday, celebrated fifteen and four days
following the spiritual Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, which highlight the
moral foundation of Judaism and the Jewish People. The Book of Ecclesiastes
– one of the greatest philosophical documents – is read during Sukkot,
amplifying the practical philosophy of King Solomon on the supremacy of God,
the pursuit of morality, wisdom and happiness, the centrality of the family,
historical memory and patience. The Hebrew name of Ecclesiastes is Kohelet
(÷äìú) and the commandment to celebrate Sukkot is Hakhel (ä÷äì) – to
assemble.
3. Sukkot is celebrated on the 15th day of the Jewish month of Tishrei,
commemorating the launching the construction of the Holy Sanctuary in the
Sinai Desert. The Sukkah was the dwelling of the Jewish People for 40 years.
Sukkah and Sukkot are named after the first stop of The Exodus – Sukkota.
4. The Sukkah signifies the Chuppah – the Jewish wedding canopy – of the
renewed wedding between God and the Jewish People. While Yom Kippur
represents God’s forgiveness of the Golden Calf Sin, Sukkot represents the
reinstatement of the Divine Providence over the Jewish People. Hence,
Sukkot mandates Jews to be happy (“åäééú àê ùîç”). The three Pilgrimages to
Jerusalem, the center location of Judaism and the Jewish State: Passover is
the holiday of Liberty, Shavuot (Pentecost) is the holiday of the Torah and
Sukkot is the holiday of Happiness
5. A synonym for the Sukkah – a temporary hut – is “The House of David”,
representing the return to – and the construction in – the Jewish Homeland,
Zion. The construction of the Sukkah and Zion are two of the 248 Jewish
Do’s (next to the 365 Don’ts). Sukkot – just like Passover – commemorates
Jewish Sovereignty and Liberty. Sukkot highlights the collective
responsibility of the Jewish Nation, complementing Yom Kippur’s and Rosh
Hashanah’s individual responsibility. Humility – as a national and personal
prerequisite – is underlined by the humble Sukkah and by residing there
during the relatively cold month of Tishrey.
6. The Hebrew spelling of Sukkah (ñëä) conveys its significance:
wholesomeness and totality (ñê), shelter (ñëê), to anoint (ñåê), sizeable
branch of tree (ñåëä), divine curtain/shelter (îñê) and attentiveness to
history/memory (ñëú).
7. Sukkot honors the Torah, as The Foundation of Judaism and the Jewish
People. Sukkot reflects the three inter-related and mutually-inclusive
pillars of Judaism: The Torah of Israel, the People of Israel and the Land
of Israel. The day following Sukkot (Simchat Torah) is dedicated to the
conclusion of the annual Torah reading and to the beginning of next year’s
Torah reading. On Simchat Torah, the People of the Book are dancing with
The Book, the Torah.
8. The Seven days duration of Sukkot (during the 7th month of Tishrei)
symbolizes the seven days Jewish week (the Creation), the Seven
Crops/Produce which bless the Promised Land (wheat, barley, grapes, figs,
pomegranates, olives, and dates), the 7 divine clouds which sheltered the
Jewish People in the desert and it inspired the 7 blessings which are read
during a Jewish wedding, the 7 rounds (ä÷ôåú) of dancing with the Torah
during Simchat Torah and the 7 readings (òìéåú) of the Torah on Sabbath.
9. The seven days of Sukkot are dedicated to the 7 Ushpizin, distinguished
guests (origin of the words Hospes and hospitality): Abraham, Isaac, Jacob,
Joseph, Moses, Aaron and David, who had to endure immense odds in their
determined pursuit of ground- breaking initatives. Thus, the Ushpizin should
constitute a role model to contemporary leadership…
10. Sukkah owners are urged to invite (especially underprivileged)
strangers in the best tradition of Abraham the Patriarch, who royally
welcomed to his tent three miserably-looking strangers. Thus, the Sukkah
must remain unlocked!
11. Sukkot provides the last opportunity for repentance.
12. Sukkot is the holiday of harvesting and national ingathering (àñéó in
Hebrew means harvesting and also ingathering). The four sides of the Sukkah
represent the global Jewish community (north, south, west and east), which
ingathers under the same roof (the Land of Israel).
13. Sukkot is a universal holiday, inviting all peoples to come to
Jerusalem on a pilgrimage (
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zechariah_(Hebrew_prophet)> Zechariah 14:
16-19). The Sukkah of Shalom: Shalom is one of the names of God and Shalem
– wholesome and complete in Hebrew – is one of the names of Jerusalem.
14. Sukkot’s Four Species (citron, palm, myrtle and willow) – which are
bonded together – represent four types of human-beings: Persons who possess
positive odor and taste (values and action), positive taste but no odor
(action but no values), positive odor but no taste (values but no action)
and those who are devoid of taste and odor (no values and no action).
However, all are bonded (and depend on each other) by shared roots/history.
The Four Species reflect prerequisites for genuine leadership: the palm
branch (Lulav in Hebrew) symbolizes the human backbone, the willow (Arava in
Hebrew) reflects humility, the citron (Etrog in Hebrew) represents the heart
and the myrtle (Hadas in Hebrew) stands for the eyes.
Happy Sukkot,
Ambassador (ret.) Yoram Ettinger, “Second Thought”, éåøí àèéðâø, “áîçùáä
ùðééä”
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