TORAT MIZRACHI

Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon Rabbanit Sharon Rimon

Sukkot on in the Kovno Ghetto

his year, the first day of concept is perhaps not applicable when At the same time, the Gadol HaDor, falls on Shabbat, as the aveira is mideRabbanan. Avraham DovBer Kahana-Sha- it did in 1943. In his Holo- pira, was also in the ghetto. He was Tcaust responsa, Rabbi Ephraim Oshri He adds: “The decree was to prevent sick and in no state to respond to such someone carrying in a public area. Usu- tells the following story: Sukkot was a question in real time. However, he ally, even if there is an eruv, we are still approaching and no-one in the ghetto felt better during the holiday and concerned someone may step outside had arba minim. Not only were they Oshri asked him what he would have the boundaries of the eruv. However, distraught but they were also afraid responded. He replied, “ did not in the Kovno Ghetto, there was no they may never shake a lulav again. talk about a reality in which people are chance of that because it was hermet- imprisoned and in perpetual fear of Suddenly, a Jew appeared with a set of ically sealed – “No-one was allowed in their lives.” arba minim! He had come from Vilna or out and it was bordered by an electric on business but the Germans would not barbed wire fence guarded by German This year, we will also be celebrating allow him to stay for the second day. soldiers.” Sukkot on Shabbat and we have the for- He had to return to Vilna immediately Perhaps in this context, when there is tune to be free people in our own Land. after Shabbat. The in the ghetto no chance of carrying something in Yes, we are experiencing a pandemic but were worried they’d miss out on the a public domain, there is no rabbinic that pales in the face of everything we so they asked Rabbi Oshri if in prohibition of taking the arba minim, have suffered throughout our history. those circumstances they could bench and if the mitzvah was not uprooted, We pray the pandemic ends soon, that lulav on Shabbat. one would be able to take them. the world will be a better and purer The Gemara ( 42b) says that Although Rav Oshri cited various argu- place, and that B’Ezrat Hashem we our- although the indicates we should ments permitting taking arba minim on selves will be able to do good deeds, sit take the arba minim even when the Shabbat, he didn’t rule in favor of any in the sukkah and joyously take the arba first yom tov falls on Shabbat, Chazal particular position: minim, relishing all the good G-d has decreed not to, in case a person may given us and using that good to make a carry his arba minim four amot in the “I did not want to rule in this matter difference to the world around us. public domain, which of course is for- – neither prohibit nor allow, and since bidden on Shabbat. I did not rule it was forbidden, they understood themselves that one who 1 See more on this in my book “ – Hala- It seems the Sages’ intention was to does bench lulav will not lose out.” cha Mimkora,” p.353. make sure that when Yom Tov falls on Shabbat, we don’t entirely forget the He then relates that many Jews did Shabbat part.1 indeed make the beracha over the arba minim and even said “Shechechiyanu.” הי"ד So did Chazal completely uproot this He adds that Reb Feivel Zissman mitzvah or did they perhaps only forbid said he would observe the mitzvah it, in which case if one was to take the without asking any questions: “I am arba minim on Shabbat one would ready to accept Gehinnom for observing still be fulfilling a mitzvah? Another this mitzvah, because all my life I spent question is whether taking the lulav is a fortune on buying beautiful etrogim, forbidden because it is a mitzvah that and now – perhaps before my death – I comes from an aveira (i.e. overriding know that observing this mitzvah will Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon is Head of Miz- the words of the Sages). Rav Oshri be a merit in my favor on the Day of rachi’s Shalhevet Educational Advisory discusses this too and writes that this Judgement.” Board and Chairman of Sulamot.

10 | TORAT MIZRACHI

Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon Rabbanit Sharon Rimon

The Universality of the Festival of Sukkot

n Zecharia’s prophecy (14), he to the celebration of Sukkot, beyond defenses, definitions and stereotypes, describes a day when the Kingship commemorating the date of the war. prevent people from connecting with of Hashem is revealed to the entire one another. So too, the feelings of Iworld. As a result, there is great turmoil At the inauguration of the First Beit haughtiness and abundance obstruct HaMikdash, on Sukkot, Shlomo desig- in the world: G-d wages war against the G-d’s Kingship in the world and cause nated it as a place of prayer for all of the nations, there is a great earthquake, a divisiveness among people. nations, not just Am Yisrael (Melachim spring bursts forth from to I 8:41-43). It appears it is no coincidence the Dead Sea and there is a total eclipse On Sukkot, everyone goes outside, and that both Shlomo and Zecharia desig- of the celestial luminaries. The end all are equal in their humble dwelling. nated the Beit HaMikdash for a univer- result of this tremendous upheaval is, As such, everyone can feel G-d’s Provi- sal purpose, which specifically revolves dence, and a sense of equality with their “And G-d shall become King over all around the festival of Sukkot. the earth; on that day the L-rd shall be fellow. It is precisely in this reality that one, and His name one” (14:9). One of It is interesting to note that the mitzvot people are able to make room for one the expressions of G-d’s Kingship in the connected to Sukkot do possess a uni- another in their hearts, and for G-d’s world is that all the nations of the world versal element and meaning: presence among them. Humility, sim- will also acknowledge and accept Him plicity, vulnerability and the feeling of The represent the prayer and they will all come to worship Him impermanence allow people to connect, for rain, which is a basic, existential as well as allowing for G-d’s Kingship in Jerusalem. need for the entire world, not only for to be felt. “And it will come to pass, that everyone Am Yisrael. The festival of Sukkot is a holiday when who is left of the nations who came up The korbanot of the holiday are dif- we pray for all of the world’s existential against Jerusalem, will go up every year ferent from all the other festivals. On needs. It is a time we all unite under to prostrate themselves to the King, the Sukkot, there are a total of 70 offerings, the banner of humility and simplicity, L-rd of Hosts, and to celebrate the festi- symbolizing the 70 nations of the world. a time we realize just how small we are val of Sukkot” (14:16). Zecharia specif- As the states (Sukkah 55b): compared to the Creator of the Uni- ically focuses on the festival of Sukkot “Rabbi Elazar said: These 70 bulls to verse. Sukkot is a festival in which it as the time when the nations will come what do they correspond? They corre- becomes possible for everyone on earth to worship G-d. Why? spond to the 70 nations.” explains to unite in serving G-d. there: “There are 70 bulls correspond- The Malbim states that “The Downfall ing to the 70 nations of the world in of Gog will be on the festival of Sukkot, order to atone for them, so that rain and they shall all go up to Jerusalem to will fall in the whole world, for we are celebrate the festival, as a commemo- judged regarding rainfall on the festival ration of the miracle that occurred on of Sukkot.” that day.” Sitting in the sukkah symbolizes imper- According to this, it is precisely the manence, vulnerability, and simplicity, great downfall of the gentiles/enemies and thus can unite all human beings of in war that will bring those who around one common denominator. are left to the understanding that G-d is During most of the year, one is locked King. Therefore, they must celebrate on up in one’s own home, disconnected that very day they come to this under- from others and wrapped up in one’s Rabbanit Sharon Rimon teaches Tanach standing and revelation. However, it own definitions, impressions and and is Content Editor for the HaTanakh would seem there is a deeper meaning sense of security. The walls, partitions, website.

| 11