Page 8 - HaMizrachi # 23 Sukkot Simchat Torah 2020 USA

TORAT MIZRACHI

Rabbi Yosef Weinstock

The Beauty of the Arava

n his book Like Dreamers, Yossi Klein “There was a place below Jerusalem, arava plays a major role in our prayers
Halevi tells the stories of IDF para- and it was called Motza. They would for rain, as our water needs are a good
Itroopers involved in reuniting Jeru- go down and gather branches of aravot, example of our dependence on G-d.
salem during the Six-Day War. One of and come and put them on the sides of
those soldiers was Yoel bin Nun. Rabbi the altar, and their tops would be bent The word ה ָ ב ָ ר ֲ ע is related to the Hebrew
bin Nun was a founder of the settlement over the altar.” word for mixture, בּו ּ ב ְ ר ִ ע. Due to its own
movement in Israel, including Alon simplicity, the willow must constantly
Shvut and Ofra. He led a generation of “As Sukkot came to a close and people mix with others; whether with the other
Religious Zionists to study Tanach as left the Temple, they would turn to the minim or with the mizbeach, to fully
a way of understanding contemporary altar, adorned with the arava, for the contribute and be fully appreciated.
ָ
Israel. last time, and proclaim, י ִ פֹי ; ַ ח ֵּ בְז ִ מ ,ך ְ ל י ִ פֹי An arava is also a geographic location,
ָ
ַ ח ֵּ בְז ִ מ ,ך ְ ל – how beautiful the altar is, how a plateau, one difficult to access and not
The young Yoel was learning at Yeshi- beautiful the aravot were.” useful in its own right, but useful as an
vat Merkaz HaRav, led at that time by artery connecting different places.
Rav Kook’s son, Rav Tzvi Yehuda. One In what way is the arava beautiful? By
itself, there is nothing eye-catching
day, Yoel was accompanying Rav Tzvi The arava benefits others without
Yehuda through the streets of Geula about it. Its hadar, its beauty, is dis- needing to be in the limelight. Its com-
when they came across a campaign rally played when put together with the lulav bination of humility and benevolence
for a Charedi political party. An activist and hadassim. The simple green leaves – contributing to others without being
was addressing a crowd of black-hatted create an aesthetic look in context with the focus of attention – is truly beautiful.
men, whom he kept addressing as “the the other minim. The aravot help create The arava is our Jewish symbol of the
community of holy etrogim.” a pleasing and striking overall effect. beauty of servant leadership.
Similarly, when adorning the mizbeach, Traditional leadership often involves
There is a well-known Midrash that
compares the Four Species to four types there is no need to use objects that are the accumulation and exercise of power
of Jews. The etrog, having both taste and beautiful or impressive in their own by one at the “top of the pyramid.” By
fragrance, is compared to righteous Jews right. The altar itself was a work of art. comparison, the servant-leader shares
who possess both Torah knowledge and What are needed are some accents to power, puts the needs of others first and
good deeds. The speaker was praising create an overall pleasing effect. The helps people develop and perform to the
the assembled as “the community of aravot must not draw attention away best of their abilities.
holy etrogim.” Upon hearing this, Rav from the altar but rather add a splash Making others look good while worrying
Tzvi Yehuda tightened his grip on Yoel’s of green to the picture. Flower bouquets less about oneself. This is servant leader-
arm and said emphatically, “The miz- are that much more beautiful when ship and this is the lesson of the arava.
beach was not wrapped in etrogim.” combined with the simplicity of some How beautiful is the arava indeed!
green foliage – such is the beauty of the
Rav Yoel did not hear his Rebbe at first. arava.
Rav Tzvi Yehuda began pulling Yoel
away from the area as if he wanted to The beauty of the arava is found in the
get away. “The altar was not wrapped way it complements through its depen-
in etrogim,” Rav Tzvi Yehuda repeated. dence on and interaction with other
“The altar was wrapped in aravot.” items. The arava is the neediest of the
four minim. It is the most water-de-
Rav Kook was referencing another way pendent. Its dependence is manifest Rabbi Yosef Weinstock is rabbi of Young
aravot were used, as described in the not only in its appearance but also in Israel of Hollywood, and member of the
Talmud Sukkah 45a: its biology. This helps to explain why the RZA–Mizrachi National Board.

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