Torah Thoughts, Stories, and Inspiration on the weekly Parsha
According to Chazal, the arba minim, the four species, represent different types of people – different kinds of Jews. The Esrog represents the tzaddik, the wholly righteous person. The Lulav and Hadassim represent the Jew who is a work in progress, and the Arava personifies the Jew who is totally derelict – one hasn’t learned…
Why is such eminence ascribed to the Lulav? Why is the Lulav so paramount? After all, according to Chazal, the Esrog represents the Tzaddik, the wholly righteous person, who is resplendent in both good deeds and Torah learning. Yet, surprisingly, the Beracha that is recited focuses entirely on the Lulav, (as we say “Al Netilas…
The Gemara (Sukkah 26a) derives from the pasukin Parshas Emor (Vayikra 23:42), בַּסֻכֹּת תֵּשְׁבוּ – (For a seven-day period you shall live in booths) that a person should dwell in his sukkah for the seven days of Yom Tov just as one dwells in his house all year. However, the Satmar Rebbe writes that it…
Dwelling in the SukkahThe Gemara (Sukkah 26a) derives from the passuk, …בסוכות תשבו that a person should dwell in his sukkah for the seven days of Yom Tov just as one dwells in his house all year – but it goes both ways, writes the Satmar Rebbe, Rav Yoel Teitelbaum: A person must always remember…
