ב״ה T I S H R E I 5 7 8 1 M A S H A D I W O M E N ' S 9 1 S E P T E M B E R 2 4 - 2 5 2 0 2 1 Shabbat Spice

S U K K O T E D I T I O N

Body and Soul By Dassi Zar In the blink of an eye, we were sucked right back into

Sukkot is connected to the agricultural cycle — when life. We’re busy making up the time we missed, whether we’ve gathered our crops and have filled our store it was school or work, and we’re hurrying to build our houses. As soon as we reach material abundance, stability Sukkahs and buying our lulov and etrogs. When we and financial security, HaShem asks us to join Him in the finally enter the Sukkah on the first night, we are asked

Sukkah. This space is everything but stable. The schach to reemerge into life, not as -like beings and not as above us is blowing away, the rain is dripping into our busy workaholics — but as integrated beings that are khoresht, and our perfect blow outs are now frizzy fully aware of our souls. After all, we are part G-d (a messes. In these moments, who wouldn’t want to jump nefesh elokai mimal mamish), part human. In these 8 back inside? And yet, this permeable space called a days, we have a chance to reset and reemerge back into

Sukkah is the most fitting place for us — that is, if we’re the world - remembering that the loftiness of our souls plugged in. But why? How? are meant to be in a body — exposed to all of life’s

Less than a ago, we experienced the peak of the elements, because THAT is where we (body-soul) shine

Jewish holidays — Yom Kippur. On this day, our identities brightest. Sitting in the Sukkah should remind us that were stripped down to the bone, or should I say, down to the true source of our security and stability is rooted in the SOUL. Hashem’s embrace- the Sukkah, our love shack.

We transcended our physicality by refraining from As we move through integrating body and soul during eating, drinking, wearing leather shoes, engaging in Tzman simchataynu — the time of our joy — we can relations and adorning ourselves. With every passing keep in mind what our mystics tell us: through second, minute, and hour, we gained access to parts of kabbalistic permutations of the Hebrew letters samach our soul that are typically unaccessible. First our nefesh, and tzadik which are sometimes interchangeable. From then ruach, neshama, chaya and finally our Yechida Sameach (happy), we derive the word tzemach, which sh’bnefesh during the neilah prayer. The truth of who we means to sprout. This is hinting to the idea that deep joy are had a unique opportunity to take center stage for 25 sprouts from nurturing our unique gifts, talents and hours. For a brief moment, our souls were the star of the aspirations. So I bless each and every one of you to show... until, reality set in and the hunger pangs grew too pursue your G-d given skills in the services of bringing strong. Our human side could take no more, and just like light into this world, and may that bring you boundless that, we descended back to our human realities. joy.

C A N D L E L I G H T I N G 6 : 3 1 P M | S H A B B A T E N D S 7 : 3 7 P M S U B S C R I B E W E E K L Y O R W R I T E O N E W E E K : @ S H A B B A T S P I C E | M A S H A D I S H A B B A T S P I C E @ G M A I L . C O M

L ' I L U I N I S H M A T E S T H E R B A T E L I Y A H U Z " L ב״ה T I S H R E I 5 7 8 1 M A S H A D I W O M E N ' S 9 1 S E P T E M B E R 2 4 - 2 5 2 0 2 1 Shabbat Spice

S U K K O T E D I T I O N

How Can We Please G-d? “And, you shall take on the first day [of Sukkot] a fruit of a citrus tree (etrog), branches of palm-trees (lulav), By Tehila Bitton a branch of myrtle (hadassim) and willows of the brook In his Halakhic code, Peninei Halakha, Rav Melamed (arabot), and you shall rejoice before HaShem, your G- writes about the laws regarding prayer. In a slightly d, for seven days.” ( 23:40). overlooked chapter, we read about the importance of Each of the four species have special components to them. including the text of the “korbanot,” ritual sacrifices, in The Etrog both smells and tastes good, the Lulav our daily Tefila. There are two different korbanot which (representing the dates on its trees) only tastes good, the we read about; the HaTamid, and the Ketoret Hadassim only smell good, and the Arabot neither smell HaSamim. Like most sacrifices we think of, the Tamid is or taste good. an animal offering, burnt daily in the Temple. However, There is a famous midrash comparing these four species the Ketoret HaSamim is a more rare breed of incense, to the four different types of . The Etrog represents offered straight to G-d. the Jews who both learn and do mitsvot, the Lulav The Ketoret is a blend of eleven spices, mixed perfectly represents those Jews who only learn yet do not do together, resulting in a Heavenly aroma which pleases mitsvot, the Hadassim represent the Jews who don’t learn HaShem. Interestingly enough, one of the main spices and only do mitsvot, and the Arabot represent the Jews that this sacrifice is made up of is the “Helbona” who neither learn Torah or do any mitzvot. (galbanum), infamous for its putrid odor. However, once We might think that these different types of Jews, perfectly blended with the other ten ingredients of this ranging from the most righteous to the greatest sinners, incense, the Helbona takes on a good smell and actually are supposed to be kept separate. HaShem might not want enhances the Ketoret. to hear from all of us equally. But when we perform this The Helbona alludes to the “sinners” of , and the mitsva on Sukkot, we hold all four minim together. Ketoret to our Nation as a whole. We may think that the Just as the mitsva of Sukkot is not complete with any of “sinners” (it is important to mention that we ourselves these plants missing, so too, our nation is not complete cannot identify those “sinners,” only G-d can) are not with any of the individual types of Jews missing. And we worthy of being a part of Am Yisrael; HaShem might not must be tied together. want them as much as He wants the rest of the Jews. But So this Sukkot, as we shake the four species of plants (not it is only once those “sinners” are truly blended into the on Shabbat), let us remember this synthesis of ideas; that rest of the Nation, and the entire people is united for a we should be serving G-d truly united with every single common goal, that the fragrance is enhanced and Jew. It is not necessarily our to change the smell or HaShem is pleased. the identity of these different types of Jews. We rather We see a similar message in the Holiday of Sukkot. As we need to focus on loving and embracing each other read in the Torah, HaShem commands us how to observe unconditionally. And then, HaShem will be pleased. this Festival... Chag Sameach, and Shabbat Shalom!

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