Feature Tidbit
for Parshat B'reishit

A Parting Message from Sukkot

Most people (but most definitely not all) have dismantled their Sukkot and have stored their poles, boards, wall material, schach (not an easy word to write in English), and decorations until next year. It has been an intense and busy period of time since the first sound of the Shofar on Rosh Chodesh Elul.

It is hard to let the Chagim go, but we have little choice in the matter. The most Bnei Yisrael have succeeded in that score is the single day of ISRU CHAG. As we prepare for Shabbat B'reishit, however, let's take one T.T. look back at a Sukkot lesson that can and should stay with us all the time, in one or two or three ways.

The 201st Yahrzeit of the Vilna Gaon was during Chol HaMoed Sukkot. Rabbi Menachem Benzion Sacks z"l in Menachem Zion on Yerach HaEitanim (the month of Tishrei), writes that the last words of the GR"A in this world on the day of his passing, was the pasuk from T'hilim 76, VAY'HI B'SHALEM SUKO U'M'ONATO B'TZION.

The Gaon pointed out that that there are two mitzvot that
a Jew observes with his entire being - not just with part of himself. They are Sukka and Eretz Yisrael. Both mitzvot - differently, to be sure - require living and breathing,
waking and sleeping - in short, each person's everything. The drash on the above-quoted pasuk - And it will be COMPLETE - what mitzvot have this completeness? -
SUKO, one's sukka, and when his address is in Zion. One eats matza with his mouth (& digestive system), takes the 4-species in hand, hears the Shofar. But we LIVE the mitzva of Sukka.

Allow me to suggest two different messages - one for those who live in Israel, the other for those who don't, yet - from the Sukka-Eretz Yisrael connection.

One of the potential problems in the proper observance of Sukka is in the area of KAVANA. When you take a kazayit (or two) of matza into your hand, make the brachot, chew and swallow, it is reasonable to expect that a person can have the proper thopughts and kavana for a couple of minutes. It is like that with most mitzvot.

But Sukka might be a problem. You walk into the Sukka on the first night, say the Hineni Muchan, the Ribono Shel Olam, invite the Ushpizin, make Kiddush, HaMotzi - solid kavana all the  way. But 10-15 minutes into the meal and most people will be "into" the meal and not "into" Sukka. After benching, you sit and learn, then read a book, play a game, talk to a friend, take a nap - that's the point of Sukka. That's normal living. Every so often, it is a nice idea to take a break, look up at the Schach and refocus your kavana. It really can't be done continuously, but continually is a good idea. At least from time to time.

And the same goes for Yishuv Eretz Yisrael. A new Oleh gets off the plane and kisses the ground. He makes a She'he'che'yanu, says a prayer, etc. Kavana. Soon everyday life takes over. That's okay. But every once in a while, it's a good idea to pause, look at the ground, a flower, a tree, a street sign, a building, take a deep breath and say or think that you are engrossed in a very special mitzva every moment of your life. Alas, there is no room for the second point, which was predominantly for future Olim, but I'll catch you some other time. You can take this point too.

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