2021/5782
In Sefer Vayikra perek 23 pesukim 42-43, the Torah tells us
בַּסֻּכֹּ֥ת תֵּשְׁב֖וּ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים כָּל־הָֽאֶזְרָח֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל יֵשְׁב֖וּ בַּסֻּכֹּֽת׃ לְמַעַן֮ יֵדְע֣וּ דֹרֹֽתֵיכֶם֒ כִּ֣י בַסֻּכּ֗וֹת הוֹשַׁ֙בְתִּי֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בְּהוֹצִיאִ֥י אוֹתָ֖ם מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם אֲנִ֖י ה׳ אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃
“You shall live in Sukkos for seven days, every citizen of Yisrael shall live in Sukkos, so that future generations will know that I made Bnei Yisrael live in Sukkos when I took them out of Mitzrayim, I am Hashem your God.” From these Pesukim we will explore two questions. The first, why does the Torah need to tell us that כָּל־הָֽאֶזְרָח֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל יֵשְׁב֖וּ בַּסֻּכֹּֽת? Is it not obvious that every Jew would be obligated in this Mitzvah? The second, what is the need for future generations to know that Hashem housed us in Sukkos when we were in the desert?
Rashi, in his commentary to Vayikra 23:4 mentions that כָּל־הָֽאֶזְרָח֙ comes to include converts. With this, Rav Asher Weis answers the first question. In his commentary to Vayikra 23:42, the Minchas Asher says that the reason why the Torah has to specify כָּל־הָֽאֶזְרָח֙ is because the ger was not with us in the desert. Even though he did not benefit from Hashem housing us in Sukkos, he still has to join us in the Mitzvah of בַּסֻּכֹּ֥ת תֵּשְׁב֖וּ שִׁבְעַ֣ת יָמִ֑ים.
However, this only strengthens the second question. What is the purpose of reminding future generations, even those that did not benefit from the Sukkos in the desert, of the fact that Hashem housed us in Sukkos?
To answer this question, we must first understand what the Pasuk means when it says Sukkos. What is a Sukkah? The Gemara on Sukkah 11b relates a Machlokes between Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Akiva. Rabbi Eliezer says that the Sukkos that the pasuk refers to were really the Annanei HaKavod, whereas Rabbi Akiva says that they were actual sukkos. The Gemara says that according to Rabbi Eliezer it is clear why the Schach must be made out of materials that grew from the ground, are no longer connected to the ground, and can not be McKabel Tuma. It is because the Annanei Kavod, are clouds, and as we know from Breishis 2:6 where it says וְאֵד יַעֲלֶה מִן הָאָרֶץ that a mist, or cloud, is something that comes from the ground and cannot be McKabel Tuma. However, according to Rabbi Akiva from where do we learn these Halachos? Rabbi Yochanan said we learn it from Devarim 16:13. The Pasuk says that we celebrate Sukkos בְּאׇסְפְּךָ מִגׇּרְנְךָ וּמִיִּקְבֶךָ, when we gather from the threshing floor and wine press. This teaches that the Schach can be made from the leftover garbage from the threshing floor which grew from the ground and cannot be McKabel Tuma. Rav Chisda says we learn it from Nechemia 8:15 צְאוּ הָהָר וְהָבִיאוּ עֲלֵי זַיִת וַעֲלֵי עֵץ שֶׁמֶן וַעֲלֵי הֲדַס וַעֲלֵי תְמָרִים וַעֲלֵי עֵץ עָבוֹת. Nechemia tells Bnei Yisrael to go to the mountain and collect Lulavim and Hadassim that are passul to be used for the Arba Minim and use them for Schach. According to either Rabbi Yochanan or Rav Chisda it is clear that Sukkos are made using materials that would otherwise be considered useless. The Halacha is teaching us that those materials actually are important, and can help us fulfill the Ratzon Hashem.
From the Halachos of Schach and the need for geirim to live in a Sukkah, we can learn the importance of teaching future generations that Hashem housed us in Sukkos. The lesson of the Sukkah is that everyone and everything has value and a place in this world. Whether a lulav was good enough to be used for Arba Minim or not does not matter, it can be used for the Schach. Whether you were with us in the desert or not does not matter, you are a member of Yisrael and therefore have a place in our sukkah. After the Aseres Yimei Teshuva, when everyone is concerned with being good enough to remain in this world, Hashem reminds us that we all have a place and we all have value. Good Yuntif!