Page 42 - HaMizrachi # 23 Sukkot Simchat Torah 2020 USA

HOLIDAY READING

Rabbi Johnny Solomon

Renewing our Faith

ukkot is the festival of faith, and demonstrate the intentionality of comparable to a solid house, and faith
by leaving our homes and dwell- using it for the mitzvah, this is not an is not ‘watertight.’ Instead, faith is
Sing in a sukkah under the natural absolute requirement. In light of this like a sukkah whose test of strength
s’chach, we demonstrate our faith in debate, common practice is to shake is whether it can stay standing in
G-d. In fact, the Zohar (Emor 103a) or momentarily lift a small section of response to a הָיּוצ ְ מ ַ חּור (literally, ‘a typ-
actually refers to the s’chach’s shade as ‘old’ s’chach as an act of renewal. ical wind,’ but which also translates as
אתונמיהמד אליצ – the protective shade ‘the current spirit of the times’), and
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of faith. With this in mind, I would like While s’chach – which reminds us of whose roof – which represents the
to explore one of the halachot of the how G-d protected Bnei Yisrael as protective shade of faith – can protect
s’chach, and thereby consider how we they journeyed through the wilder- its inhabitants notwithstanding the
should relate to our faith. ness, and whose shade represents the fact it is both fragile and porous to the
protective shade of faith – can techni- elements.
The Mishna (Sukkot 1:1, 9a) presents cally fulfill its function as a reminder
a disagreement regarding the halachic of faith even if it has been sitting on Just like the s’chach is shaken or
validity of a sukkah yeshana (literally, a sukkah for more than 30 days, its momentarily lifted as an act of
an old sukkah) – a sukkah on which long-term presence can often mean we renewal, our faith can be renewed
s’chach has sat for over 30 days and forget its core message. Consequently, either when we have undergone a chal-
which had not expressly been placed we are required (according to some), lenging experience that has ‘shaken’
there for the sake of the upcoming and strongly encouraged (according us, or been through an experience
Sukkot festival. According to Beit to others), to perform a renewal act on that has ‘lifted’ us. And why? Because
Shammai, this ‘old’ s’chach is invalid the s’chach to ensure we haven’t forgot- by having either of these experiences,
and must be renewed, while Beit Hillel ten what the s’chach is meant to teach we are reminded that faith is not
permits the use of ‘old’ s’chach. us spiritually. something that is fixed but is, instead,
something that can be moved and
However, while we follow the position Just as ‘old’ s’chach needs a renewal renewed.
of Beit Hillel, the Yerushalmi (Sukkah act to help us remember its function
1:2, 4b) stipulates that some minor act and message, so people of faith can And this is why, if your sukkah has had
of תּו ׁש ְ ּ ד ַ ח ְ ת ִ ה (renewal) must still be per- at times forget what it means to have s’chach on its roof for over 30 days,
formed on a small section of the ‘old’ faith, because anything perpetually you need to move it. By doing so, it
s’chach. present in our lives runs the risk of us will remind you that true faith must be
taking it for granted and forgetting its something that moves you too.
Admittedly, this requirement is not core message.
evident from the conclusion in the
Gemara, and hence the Rambam and So, while we shake or momentarily lift 1 Rav Yehudai Gaon (as cited in the Shibolei
the Rif make no reference to perform- up a small part of the s’chach as an act HaLeket Ch. 337), Tosfot (Sukkah 9a), Rosh
ing any renewal act on ‘old’ s’chach. of renewal, what sort of renewal act (Sukkah 1:13), Tur (Orach Chaim 636), Shul-
chan Aruch (Orach Chaim 636:1).
However, there are other authori- should we be performing on our own 2 Meiri (on Sukkah 9a), Ran (on Sukkah 9a),
ties who state that the Yerushalmi’s faith? Ritva (Sukkah 2a), Magen Avraham (OC
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demand ר ָ ב ָ ּ ד ּ ה ָּ ב ׁש ֵ ּ ד ַ ח ְ ל – to renew an 636:1), Mishna Berura (OC 636:4).
element of [the s’chach] – is an abso- Faith, like s’chach, is often fragile. 3 Sukkah 24b.
lute requirement. Faith, like s’chach, is always porous.
The mistake we sometimes make is Rav Johnny Solomon teaches at seminaries
Finally, there is an opinion that viewing faith as if it was a solid con- in Yerushalayim and writes Jewish educa-
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while a renewal act should, lechatch- crete building with a watertight roof. tional content for schools and organizations
ila, be performed on ‘old’ s’chach to But this is a misnomer. Faith is not around the world.

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