These past ten days saw the highest synagogue attendance for the entire year in the American Jewish community. It is predictable to the point that virtually every place of worship in the country adds seats and makes contingency plans for overflowing crowds. We all know that Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur enjoy the greatest public participation of all the festivals. And now we can all go back to normal.
But, wait! There are another two weeks for celebration that are just about to begin! Sukkot and Simchat Torah are so rich in mitzvoth, lessons and Jewish culture that it is hard to come to terms with how they can be overlooked. I will confess, if one were to ask me to recommend which festivals to attend synagogue services I would definitely vote for the ones coming up around the corner.
I am not diminishing, Heaven forbid, the importance of the Jewish New Year and the Day of Atonement. They are the High Holy Days and should be observed as such. However, on the most basic level, Rosh Hashanah is a time to pray for a good a sweet year and Yom Kippur we seek atonement. The focus is on the self.
Sukkot on the other hand, is a celebration of Jewish unity. Ground Zero of the festival is the Sukkah in which we are instructed to invite friends, family and even complete strangers to partake in the festivities together. And so we do not lose focus on the unique qualities of the individual we observe the mitzvah of holding the “Four Kinds”.
There are two fundamental components of Jewish life: Torah Study and Mitzvah Observance. The knowledge acquired through Torah study is absorbed in the mind and has a transformative effect. This can be compared to “taste” as food is digested and becomes part of the body. When one observes a Mitzvah, the effect is apparent only during the action. This can be compared to a “scent” which has a temporary impact.
The Etrog has a taste and a scent – representing the Jew that is intellectually and emotionally involved in Jewish life. The Lulav is the branch of a date palm – the date has only a taste – representing the Jew that is intellectually invested in Judaism. The Hadas – myrtle branch – has a scent, representing the emotional Jew. Finally, the Arava – the willow – represents the simple Jew lacking any intellectual or emotional religious stamina. We are commanded to bring them all together ad to recite a blessing. If one element is missing, we are not deserving of divine blessing.
Simchat Torah is the climax of this display of unity, when scholar and layman alike rejoice with the Torah.
This is the message of the festivals we are about to experience. I encourage you all to join us as we make the ultimate statement of Jewish unity.