Page 26 - HaMizrachi # 23 Sukkot Simchat Torah 2020 USA

GLOBAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS

Mrs. Shira Smiles

Exalted Entourage

here is a well-known custom of bond between the physical and the holiday the Torah commands us multi-
inviting seven special guests, spiritual. The clouds, like the sukkah, ple times to be joyous. Otzrot HaTorah
Tseven shepherds of our nation, are a temporary manifestation of G-d’s cites the Zohar who picks up on this
into our sukkot, one on each night of presence, and we can achieve that nomenclature. Every time we celebrate
Sukkot. According to the Zohar, each state through our service to Him. The a simcha, we are joined by our parents,
of these precious shepherds – Avra- ultimate bond, however, is achieved in and G-d brings the departed souls of
ham, Yitzchak, Ya’akov, Yosef, Moshe, the World to Come, from where our the previous generations to celebrate
Aharon and David – is considered a guests have come to visit us on this with us. How can we acknowledge
day to which the holiday is dedicated, holiday. When we sit in the sukkah, we their presence as our guests? By invit-
and all of Israel then joins them. are basking in the joy of being in G-d’s ing the poor to our sukkah or giving
presence. Therefore, if one experiences them financial, spiritual or emotional
Do these shepherds actually come to discomfort while in the sukkah, one is
grace our sukkot as guests? How do exempt from sitting there, while one support we are taking what we would
we incorporate that concept to impact should attempt to “live” in the sukkah, otherwise offer these guests and giving
our celebration? And why do we invite catching up on one’s reading and it to others. If you keep your celebra-
these special guests on Sukkot rather Torah study in this holy environment. tion focused only on yourselves, the
than on Pesach, the other seven-day ushpizin want no part of it and leave.
holiday? According to the Netivot Shalom, After all, the whole concept of ush-
while the covenant between Hashem pizin is inviting guests. Your spiritual
The Otzrot HaTorah, citing the and Bnei Yisrael was originally forged high must be grounded in reality and
Shelah HaKadosh, writes that with at Sinai and the Clouds of Glory sur- must include those less fortunate. It is,
such exalted guests, we must practice rounded us at that time, that covenant after all, Chag HaAsif, the holiday of
decorum in the sukkah, and keep our is renewed every year when the world gathering the wheat, but the gathering
speech Torah-based so our guests will is recreated on Rosh Hashanah. Then should also include gathering people
feel comfortable. The Belzer Rebbe we can again draw His presence down together in joy.
adds that the great wives of these lead- to us as we try to repair the world
ers accompany them too. The Netivot anew. Let us make our special guests feel
Shalom notes they have come from welcome. Make each one the center
Gan Eden, a place of total spirituality, Each of these leaders renewed some- of the conversation of the night dedi-
to visit us on this physical earth. That thing in the world. Each year, as the cated to him. The point of Sukkot is
is one of the reasons why they can only world is being recreated, we draw to give hope to people, for just as the
come to a temporary abode like the upon these characteristics to help us Clouds of Glory surrounded us in the
sukkah. While the walls of our perma- repair the world, and we ask that these desert, so does G-d’s presence sur-
nent homes absorb all the improper seven come down and impart their round us throughout our lives, and
speech and untoward behavior of the energies to us as individuals so we can He sends down some majestic men-
entire year (says the Minchat Michael), work on our mission as G-d’s nation. tors and role models to help us on our
the walls of the sukkah are inherently We do not need their help on Pesach, journey.
holy, and the s’chach is the shade of but on Sukkot, when we’ve just started
G-d’s protection. rebuilding the world, we can use their
help with chesed and gevura and all the
The walls of the sukkah represent the other traits they embody.
Clouds of Glory that surrounded us Mrs. Shira Smiles is a sought-after interna-
at Sinai and then descended on the Sukkot is called z’man simchateinu, tional lecturer, a popular seminary teacher,
Mishkan. As such, they represent the the season of our joy, for it is the only and an experienced curriculum developer.

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