Shabbat Midrash (Teaching) Outlines

Feast of Tabernacles

Introduction

• First mentioned in Genesis 33:17 - First stopping place of the Israelites on their journey out of Egypt
• Plural of Sukkah (booth, shelter, hut) - actually means "woven" - shelters were woven together from branches and leaves to protect the animals from the sun - later came to mean the booth with the "woven" roof
• Leviticus 23:33,34 - Begins on Tishri 15, 5th day after Yom Kippur - lasts for 7 days
• Contrast between the solemn mood of Yom Kippur to the festive, joyous mood of Sukkot
• Historically, Sukkot commenorates the 40 year period during which the children of Israel were wandering in the desert, living in temporary shelters
• Agriculturally, Sukkot is a harvest festival - sometimes referred to as Chag Ha-Asif - Festival of Ingathering
• Leviticus 23:39-43

Building a Sukkah

• Can be any size, so long as it is large enough to fulfill the commandment to dwell in it
• Must have at least 2 1/2 walls covered with a material that will not blow away in the wind - walls do not have to be solid - can be canvas
• Roof must be made of material referred to as sekhakh (covering)
• Sekhakh must be something that grew from the ground and was cut off - tree branches, corn stalks, bamboo reeds, sticks - must be left loose, not tied together or tied down
• Sekhakh must be placed sparsely to allow rain to get in and so the stars can be seen
• Sekhakh must be put on last
• Common practice to decorate the Sukkah - dried vegetables are used - children's artwork hung on walls inside
• A table with chairs are placed inside to accomodate guests - occupants sleep on the floor - covered with rugs or carpet

*** Our American Pilgrims who originated the Thanksgiving holiday borrowed the idea from Sukkot. When they were tying to find a way to express their thanks for their survival and for the harvest, they looked to the Bible for an appropriate way of celegrating and found Sukkot. They don't teach this in the public schools! ***

The Four Species

• Origin is found in Vayikra (Leviticus) 23:40
• Symbolism of the Four Species

1) Etrog (citron) lime, lemon - resembles in its shape the heart - the driving force behind all our actions

2) Lulav (palm branch) - resembles the spine which holds the body together and, without which, we would be unable to move

3) The Hadasim (myrtle branches) - resemble, in their almond shape, the eyes with which we behold G-d's world

4) The Aavot (willow branches) - resemble the lips with which we give expression to our thoughts and feelings

*** By holding these four together, we show that a person should devote all of his/her strengths and capacities to the service of Hashem ***

• The Etrog has both a pleasant taste and a pleasant aroma, symbolizing one who possesses both the blessings of knowledge of Torah and of good deeds
• The Lulav (branch of a date palm) - fruit has a good taste but no aroma symbolizes one who has Torah knowledge but no good deeds
• The Hadas (myrtle) has a pleasant aroma only, symbolizing the person who has good deeds and no Torah
• The Aravah (willow branch) has neither pleasant taste or aroma symbolizing the person who has neither Torah or good deeds

*** Holding these four in a tight bond represents the unity that is Hashem's goal for the Jewish people. The bond represents the conversion of a set of separate individuals into a PEOPLE, which is far greater than any individual. ***

Symbolism in Sukkot

• The world and its material things are a spiritual desert or wilderness
• I Chronicles 29:15 - Spending time in the Sukkah and remembering what G-d did for the nation of Israel will help reinforce G-d's promise that He will guide us to our permanent home in Heaven
• II Corinthians 5:1-5 - Our bodies are our Sukkot!
• Deuteronomy 16:15 - Our rejoicing should not just be for G-d's provision for our daily bread, but also for our spiritual food.

Numerology In Sukkot

• No other feast required so many sacrifices as detailed in Numbers 29:12-39

1) Seven days

2) 70 Bullocks - representing the 70 nations formed after the flood

3) 14 Rams

4) 98 Lambs - all these are divisible by 7

5) 182 total animals (26 x 7)

6) Add 336 tenths ephahs of flour for meal offering (48 x 7)

* The number 7, symbolizing completion, is imprinted on this, the seventh feast during the seventh month *

The Water Ceremony

• The high point of Sukkot celebration - "drawing of the waters"
• Reached its peak on last day of Sukkot (Hoshannah Rabbah)
• Accompanied by throngs of chanting worshipers and flutists, the Levitical priests went to the pool of Siloam near the temple mount. There the Hight Priest filled a golden pitcher with water for the ceremony and returned to the temple. The huge crowd entered through the Water Gate that was named for the ceremony. The choir and the worshippers began chanting the words of Psalm 118, called the "Hallel" or praise Psalm.

The Seven Guests

• Each night of Sukkot, as we enjoy festive meals, we are privileged to have in our company seven of the greatest leaders of the Jewish people

1) Avraham (Abraham) - Bereshit (Genesis) 12:1 - "Go forth"

2) Yitzchak (Isaac) - Bereshit (Genesis) 26:1 - "Went to Avimelech"

3) Yaakov (Jacob) - Bereshit (Genesis) 28:2 - "Arise and go to Aram"

4) Yosef (Joseph) - Sold as a slave to Egypt

5-6) Moshe and Aharon (Moses and Aaron) - Led the Jewish people during sojourn in the desert

7) David - Fled from his enemies into the desert of Judea

• In all the cases, we see examples of how to maintain our faith in the protection of Hashem despite great adversity - one of the secrets of the survival of the Jewish people
• The presence of these great guests reminds us of the supreme importance in the Jewish religion of having guests, specifically these less fortunate than ourselves in some way. We need to remember that any kind of physical enjoyment, which is not shared with the poor or less fortunate is viewed by Adonai as alien, whereas, if it is shared, that same enjoyment is raised to the heights of "Avodat Hashem", service to the L-rd.

Final Caution

• Deuteronomy 8:17-18 -

"When you later have prosperity, be careful that you not say to yourself, it was my own strength and personal power that brought me all this. You must remember that it is Adonai you G-d who gives you the power to become prosperous."

Amen!

posted by Chris Phillips, Congregational Leader  # 10/07/2005