Spiritual Gems from the parsha

Exalted Guests - the UshpizinWhen the people of Israel leave their homes and enter the sukka for the sake of G-d's Name, they achieve the merit there of welcoming the Divine Presence and all the seven faithful shepherds descend from the Garden of Eden, and come to the sukka as their guests.

(Zohar)

Waving the Four Kinds

One waves the Four Kinds [palm, citron, willow and myrtle] to and fro to Him who owns the four directions; up and down to Him who owns heaven and earth. That is to say: the four kinds are an allusion to G-d's having created all of existence, and that there is naught besides Him.

(Tractate Suka 37)


And the feast of ingathering, at the end of the year, when you gather in your labors out of the field. (Ex. 23:16)

After you have gathered in the bounty of the land, and your homes are filled with all manners of goodness - corn, new wine and pure oil - you shall dwell in sukkot, in order to remember that for forty years I sustained you in the desert. With this in mind you shall give thanks for your inheritance and for your houses full of plenty; do not say in your heart, "My power and the might of my hands have wrought this strength."

(Rashbam)


And you shall rejoice in your festival... and be happy - ach sameach (Deut. 16:14-15)

Without certain boundaries, unrestrained rejoicing can lead to levity and frivolousness. By using the word "ach" (literally, "but"), the Torah cautions that even while we rejoice, we must always be conscious of the reason for our rejoicing.

(Sefat Emet)