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SUKKOT 2017 on One Foot על רגל אחת SUKKOT 2017 On One Foot על רגל אחת 22622 Vanowen Street West Hills, CA 91307 818-348-0048 | dTHS.org Introduction A non-Jew once approached the great sage Shammai with a challenge. “You may convert me,” he said, “on the condition that you teach me the whole Torah while I stand al regel ahat/on one foot.” Immediately, Shammai chased the man off. When the man approached Hillel with the same challenge however, Hillel responded, “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor: that is the whole Torah, all the rest is the commentary; now go and learn it.” (Shabbat 31a) How can we account for their differing responses? Shammai is understandably offended at the notion that something as rich as the entire Jewish tradition could be so reduced and conveyed on one foot, and thereby trivialized. The patient Hillel however, sees an opportunity. In effect he offers: “take this nugget, or better yet, this seed and nurture it. You’ll see no branches to kindle and keep you warm at night, no fruit to sustain you, not even any shade from the sun’s punishing rays; but if you care for it, if you tend it and cherish it, the seed will provide all this and more.” All that, on one foot. With this first 2017-18 edition of our holiday publication series, On One Foot we offer you the seeds, the contributions על רגל אחת below. All revolve around the theme of the Four Species/Arba’ah Minim. The Four Species consist of the lulav/palm branch, etrog/ citron, hadas/myrtles, and aravah/willows. Each of these species carries with it symbolic meanings; brought together on the Sukkot holiday, additional meanings are gained. The campus community was invited to reflect on either a single item or on the possible meaning of gathering all four, or even on the significance of choosing four and not more or less. The eight contributions represent a variety of approaches, and these are the seeds for your own family or personal discussions--and perhaps as we take the Four Species during Sukkot we will bring to it additional depth. We hope that you will take these seeds, sow them and water them in the garden of your family and your own lives, and that these seeds will enrich your Sukkot season. And you can enjoy these even without standing “on one foot!” Hag Samei-ah!--May you and yours have a joyful holy day period! Yonatan Rosner and J.B. Sacks Producers and Editors of Al Regel Ahat Co-Directors, Jewish Life Acknowledgements We wish to thank all of our contributors--students and faculty-- for enriching our High Holy Days with their heartfelt perspectives. D’varim min halev nichnasim el halev--Words from the heart penetrate the heart! We also thank our graphic designer Grace Hutchison for designing the layout, and our Marketing Department, headed by Cheri Mayman, for the passionate help in producing this issue. Y’shar Kohachen! Thank you! Yonatan Rosner and J.B. Sacks Co-Editors Students of Ms. Deutsch’s Jewish Arts Rotation Dylan Benson, Dillon Bookbinder, Tatiana Cait, Shani Cohain, Lior Feig, Miranda Franck, Ava Freeman, Morgan Gilfenbain, Mackenzie Gittelson, Andrew Gussman, Zoe Hronsky, Max Melcer, Ethan Stubington, Molly Tatum, Alexa Turner, and Jillian Weintraub (all class of 2021) A New Year, a new you. That’s the hope anyway. This New Year we remind Editors’ Note: ourselves what our values are and recommit to them. This month the 9th Grade The experience of Jewish Arts class did just that and created a collaborative collage with our favorite the Sukkot holy middot, or character traits, in mind. day period is one of art and beauty. We decorate our sukkot to beautify it. The Four Species, when brought together, form a beautiful artistic bouquet. We therefore decided to decorate this issue with beautiful art. Silvie Deutsch’s 9th Grade Art class began the year by studying positive character traits (middot) and created a beautiful artwork, now decorating our lobby, to inspire us to live out our best character throughout 5778. We begin by presenting their effort here, and then we’ll show details of this larger work throughout the issue. Class, “Character/Middot” Shani Cohain, “Repair/Tikkun” Max Melcer, “Truth/Emet” Miranda Franck, “Faith/Emunah” Morgan Gilfenbain, “Blessing/B’rachah” Ava Freeman, “Liberty/Herut” The Lulav As the Jewish People by Dani Goldblatt, Jewish Studies Faculty For the past decade, it’s been a tradition for my father and I to go pick out our Editors’ Note: etrogim (citron) together for the holiday of Sukkot. We also then purchase our One of the questions lulav (palm frond), hadasim (myrtle) and aravot (willow). Together, these items we raised when are bound and held in the right hand while the etrog is held in the left, and we introducing the theme shake it in every direction. Sounds pretty weird. Shaking four different plants for this edition was: bound together? What’s the point? ”The palm, myrtle, and willow are grouped There are many different interpretations for the arba minim, the four species, together, with the used during Sukkot. One explanation keeps coming to my mind, now more than etrog by itself. On ever before. Take the etrog. It has both taste and smell. This represent a Jew each day of Sukkot who is both learned and performs good deeds. Then, we have the lulav. The lulav (fall harvest festival), has taste (from dates) but no smell, which embodies a Jew who is wise but is not except for Shabbat, known to do good deeds. Next is the hadasim which has no taste but has a scent. these are brought and Can you see the pattern yet? This resembles a Jew who is not learned, but full of held together and then good deeds. Finally, the aravot has neither smell nor taste, symbolizing the Jew waved in six directions. who does not excel in learning or good deeds. (continued on next page) As we enter the new Jewish year of 5778, it feels like we are more divided than ever. Not just Jews in the United States, but in Israel and all over the world. Jews are fighting over rights to the Western Wall, issues regarding Jewish law and conversion, and of course, politics. The political climate in the U.S. has been tense, to say the least. Regardless of our own political and religious beliefs, we are still one people. One nation. Am echad. The arba minim represent every kind of Jew. G-d created each of us for a reason and every one of us brings something different to the nation of Israel. Alone, we may falter. But, when we bind the arba minim, we come together as a nation. It doesn’t matter if you are an etrog, lulav, hadasim, or aravot. The Jewish people need you. The Four Species’ Argument: A Short Story by Rabbi David Vorspan, Rabbi-in-Residence Editors’ Note: The Four Species of Sukkot began to fight amongst themselves. Who was the most (cont.) What symbolism beautiful? do you find in this? Why consciously hold The Aravah/willow said: “I’m like a smile. I remind people that they have to be all four together?” friendly, to speak up when necessary, and shut up when necessary.” Ms. Goldblatt’s response, based on The Hadas/myrtle said: “I look like eyes. I remind people that have to see the world, a familiar Midrash appreciate it.” ((Leviticus Rabbah 30:12), is that the four The Lulav/palm branch said: “I’m upright, strong and aboveboard. I remind people species represent the they should be proud, and not spineless.” Jewish people who are symbolically brought The Etrog/citron said: “I’m the heart, the center, the most valuable part of the together for the species. And I smell the best!” purpose of becoming one. Rabbi Vorspan At that moment, a man picked them up and studied them. He said: “Look how addresses the same beautiful!” question in his original short story, which “Who is beautiful?” they all yelled. “Which of us?” reminds us that our uniqueness shines best And they heard the man continue, “Separately, they’re just twigs and leaves. But off each other. together, they form a beautiful set. They remind me that beauty is sometimes the product of unity.” And the four species fell silent, no longer bragging or bickering. Each realizing his uniqueness, but that with others, they are even more beautiful! Cautionary Wisdom by Rabbi Tsafi Lev, Rabbinic Director Who are you? “Which of the four species are you?” This a traditional Jewish Editors’ Note: question. On the holiday of Sukkot we bring together four distinct species of Rabbi Lev uses the Lulav), and /לולב ) Hadas), palm/הדס ) Aravah), myrtle/ ערבה) plants: the willow midrash (Leviticus Etrog). The willow, with no scent or flavor, represents a person with /אתרוג ) citron Rabbah 30:12) that little knowledge, and no good deeds to speak of. The myrtle has no taste, but it sees the four species as does have a pleasing fragrance. It represents those who are not symbolic of distinct learned, but do contribute positively to community. The palm has flavor (the date) types of people in but no fragrance; it represents those who are knowledgeable, but whose intellect order to meditate stays theoretical; their wisdom does not lead them to positive action. And then upon the gulf people there is the citron which has a beautiful fragrance and is edible. In this metaphor, have between group the citron represents the ideal person, i.e.the one who is both wise, and, particularism, on contributes to the community.
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